Rangers continue to be busy in the transfer market.
Since being appointed manager, Russell Martin has made six signings to date at Ibrox, the latest of which is Nasser Djiga’s arrival on a season-long loan.
Now, with the start of Champions League qualifying under a fortnight away, how many more new recruits will Rangers secure?
Rangers continue to be busy in the transfer market
On Saturday, Martin set foot in the Ibrox dugout for the very first time, overseeing a 2-2 pre-season friendly draw, falling 2-0 behind after just 13 minutes, only for second half goals from Mohamed Diomandé and then Findlay Curtis to salvage a stalemate.
Max Aarons made his maiden appearance in light blue from the start, while Emmanuel Fernandez did so as a second half substitute.
Now, according to a report by The Sheffield Star, Rangers are ‘considering’ re-signing Josh Windass from Sheffield Wednesday, seven years after he departed Glasgow, with Derby County, Norwich City and Coventry City also noted ‘admirers’.
The EFL Championship club find themselves in a very perilous position given that, as documented by Philip Buckingham of the Athletic, owner Dejphon Chansiri is no longer paying players, or any staff for that matter, meaning players will soon be able to terminate their contracts and leave for free.
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Windass has 12 months remaining on his contract with the Owls but, as outlined, should the crisis at Hillsborough continue, he could become a free agent in the near future.
How Josh Windass would improve Rangers
As alluded to, Windass spent two seasons with Rangers between 2016 and 2018, making 73 appearances, scoring a modest 19 goals and registering 13 assists.
Since departing however, he has largely impressed in England’s lower leagues, as the table below documents.
2018/19
Wigan Athletic
Championship
40
5
4
2019/20
Wigan & Sheff Wed
Championship
25
7
0
2020/21
Sheffield Wednesday
Championship
44
10
6
2021/22
Sheffield Wednesday
League One
12
4
2
2022/23
Sheffield Wednesday
League One
42
16
7
2023/24
Sheffield Wednesday
Championship
28
7
2
2024/25
Sheffield Wednesday
Championship
47
13
6
As the table outlines, Windass has reached double figures in terms of goals in three of the last five seasons, enjoying his best-ever EFL Championship campaign last year; only four players scored more than his tally of 13 in the division.
His manager Danny Röhl described him as a “quality” player, while the undisputed highlight of his career came in May 2023, scoring an 123rd minute winner as Sheffield Wednesday beat Barnsley in the EFL League One play-off final at Wembley.
So, could Windass become the latest Rangers player to return to the club and enjoy a successful second spell?
Well, let’s assess a few who have done exactly that in the past.
Allan McGregor
273
227
Steven Davis
208
159
Kenny Miller*
37
105 + 154
Barry Ferguson
235
185
*returned a third time.
As the table outlines, many of the greatest players from Rangers’ modern history rejoined the club following spells away.
Few have done so with such distinction as Steven Davis, described by Jordan Campbell of the Athletic as a ‘central part’ of Walter Smith’s all-conquering team between 2007 and 2011, before playing a pivotal role under Steven Gerrard nigh on a decade later too, thereby able to ‘cement his place in Rangers royalty’.
So, despite a far less glittering first spell at the club, could Windass do something similar? Well, his goal-scoring exploits in the EFL Championship last season certainly suggests so, especially when considering that England’s second-tier, according to Global Football Rankings, is the 11th strongest division in the world, with the Scottish Premiership all the way down in 43rd.
Thus, if Rangers are able to snap up Windass on a free, it would surely be a shrewd acquisition.
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