Rangers' intriguing £26m summer transfer window predicted - including Man Utd and Leeds United deals

Rangers have made a solid start to Philippe Clement’s first full season in charge at Ibrox after four points from their first two Premiership fixtures and securing an ‘away’ draw in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie with Dynamo Kiev.

The former Monaco head coach will hope to take a big step towards competing with the elite of European football on Tuesday night when the Ukrainian side head to Glasgow for the second leg and a win could help boost Rangers plans in the summer transfer window. As it stands, Clement has already added several new faces to his squad this summer with the likes of Connor Barron, Robin Propper, Vaclav Cerny and Hamza Igamane all joining Rangers since the end of last season.

But what other business could be conducted before the summer transfer window comes to a close on the final Friday of August? We fired up Football Manager 2024 to see how the world’s most popular managerial simulation predicts the next fortnight will play out for Clement and Rangers.

Goalkeepers

There was just one new addition to Clement’s goalkeeping ranks as Jack Butland and Liam Kelly are given additional competition in the former of Manchester United stopper Altay Bayindir. The Turkish international moved to Ibrox on a season-long loan deal but that will be converted into a £7m permanent switch next summer.

Clement’s goalkeeping options: Butland, Kelly, Bayindir.

Defenders

Firstly, the departures and there were two as Ridvan Yilmaz moved to English Premier League newcomers Leicester City in an £8m switch and Leon Balogun exited for Serie A newcomers Como in a £1m move. In terms of defensive incomings, there were two as once-capped Nigeria international Jordan Torunarigha was secured in a £1m move and Italian defender Andrea Carboni joined from Monza at a cost of £7m

Clement’s defensive options: Propper, Souttar, Davies, King, Nsiala, Jefte, Tavernier, Sterling, Torunarigha.

Midfield

In terms of midfield exits, Todd Cantwell was allowed to join Lille in a £7.5m move and Ianis Hagi made a permanent departure to Granada as the Rangers coffers were swelled by an additional £3m. There was just one new arrival in the middle of the part as Ilia Gruev from Leeds United arrived at a cost of £3m.

Clement’s midfield options: Raskin, Diomande, Barron, Lawrence, Dowell, Lowry, Gruev.

Forwards

There were two departures at the top end of the pitch as Clement allowed Rabbi Matondo and Cyriel Dessers made respective moves to Alaves and Cardiff City for a combined £8m. In their place came Emmanuel Dennis, who joined on loan from Nottingham Forest and Real Betis winger Juanmi, who cost £6m after agreeing to leave the La Liga club.

Clement’s forward options: Cerny, Cortes, McCausland, Wright, Danilo, Igamane, Dennis, Juanmi.

Ins

Diomande (£4m from Nordsjaelland), Propper (£2.3m from FC Twente), Igamane (£1.7m from FAR Rabat), Cerny (loan from Wolfsburg), Jefte (£500k from Fluminense), Barron (free from Aberdeen), Kelly (free from Motherwell), Nsiala (free from AC Milan), Dennis (loan from Nottingham Forest), Gruev (£3m from Leeds United), Juanmi (£6m from Real Betis), Torunarigha (£1m from AZ Alkmaar), Bayindir (loan from Manchester United), Carboni (£7m from Monza)

Outs

Lammers (£1.3m to FC Twente), Lundstram (free to Trabzonspor), Barisic (free to Trabzonspor), Goldson (undisclosed to Aris Limassol), Robby McCrorie (undisclosed to Kilmarnock), Wright (loan to Airdrie), Jack, Roofe, McLaughlin (all released), Dessers (£2m to Cardiff City), Hagi (£3m to Granada), Yilmaz (£8m to Leicester City), Cantwell (£7.5m to Lille), Matondo (£6m to Alaves), Balogun (£1m to Como)