Rangers could reignite their interest in a Scottish football hero to replace an outgoing flop this January transfer window as Danny Rohl looks to upgrade his squad ahead of a title fight.
With Joe Rothwell set to depart this window – just six months after joining from English Premier League side AFC Bournemouth – and return to England with several Championship clubs set to make a move this month, Rangers are looking for potential replacements.
With head coach Rohl already mentioning the need for more players who “get it,” the Gers may return to a former target, now managed by an ex-Rangers manager, who starred for Scotland in their victory over Denmark to make the World Cup finals in North America this summer.
Widely reported already, the Gers are interested in acquiring a new number six for their squad to replace the outgoing and disappointing Rothwell, and Norwich man Kenny McLean, now managed by Phillipe Clement may be the ideal target for the Ibrox club.
Linked with moves to his boyhood club many times over the years, including a link as recently as the summer window under Russell Martin, McLean is a noted Rangers supporter and may be the ideal addition to the midfield in Govan.
Turning 34 next week, McLean is no spring chicken, but having lobbed Celtic’s Danish keeper’ Kasper Schmeichel to secure the Tartan Army’s place at FIFA’s grandest stage for the first time since the France World Cup in 1998, he still has quality and experience to offer.
He is out of contract with the Canaries in the summer, but they do hold the option to extend that deal by an extra year, therefore Rangers would need to pay a fee for the former Aberdeen and St Mirren man – but could allocate the funds from the expected Rothwell deal to do so.
A regular for both club and Steve Clarke’s Scotland side, McLean is match fit and as an ex-Rangers youth, SPFL player and current Gers fan – he would fit the mould that Rohl and sporting advisor Stig Inge Bjornebye are looking for perfectly.
While no talks have taken place as of yet, McLean would surely be on any list of potential targets for the problem position at Ibrox.
Rangers have also been linked with other midfielders so far – such as Motherwell stand out Elliot Watt and Norwegian midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl of Tromso, with no deals made as of yet this window.