Rangers: Beale could target £15m star as first signing at Ibrox
Rangers targeting players in the Championship ‘makes a lot of sense’ following the appointment of Michael Beale, according to journalist Dean Jones.
The 42-year-old has replaced former boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the Ibrox dugout after a successful, albeit rather short, spell with Queens Park Rangers in English football’s second tier.
Beale was the Gers’ assistant manager for nearly three years throughout Steven Gerrard’s reign and has now returned to take charge himself
“I am hugely proud, it is a wonderful, wonderful football club, it is an institution,” the English tactician told the Rangers websiteupon his unveiling.
“For everyone that works here it is a huge privilege, but to be the manager of this football club, that is extremely special. Some wonderful people have sat in this chair prior to me, and I am hugely proud to be the person sat here now.”
Rangers are currently sitting nine pointsbehind rivals Celtic in the Scottish Premiership table, and Beale may be eyeing the January transfer window as a perfect opportunity to bring in reinforcements.
When asked if Beale may be tempted to try and sign players such as Antoine Semenyo due to his knowledge of the Championship, Jones revealed that it could be a possibility.
He told GiveMeSport: “Obviously, it’s a bit too early for us to know exactly where they’re going to turn their attention in the transfer market.
“But it makes a lot of sense that part of the reason that they want Beale is not just because of his leadership skills or his ability to spot a player, but because of the links that he’s got, and the nous that he’s got of a level that is going to suit them.
“And I think that does include dropping into the Championship to find talent, and Semenyo is one of those that I’m sure will be linked umpteen times before the window actually opens.”
As Jones alluded to, Semenyo has been linked with a move to Rangers in recent weeks, with Football Scotland claiming that the Glasgow giants have scouted him numerous times.
The Ghana international is currently representing his nation at the World Cup after registering eight goals and 12 assists in 32 appearances for Bristol City last season.
Celtic and Nottingham Forest have also been credited with an interest in the 22-year-old in the past, while his current employers are said to value their prized asset at around £15 million.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Sun have stated that Rangers are one of several clubs monitoring the progress of Blackpool attacker Jerry Yates, who is the Championship’s joint-top scorer at this moment in time.
