Rangers’ defensive rebuild in the transfer window under Derek McInnes is not complete yet, and details over a loan approach for one international centre-back have been shared.
McInnes has already overseen a busy summer since taking charge in Glasgow, with Rangers bringing in Lawrence Shankland, Ben Godfrey, Dan Neil, Cammy Devlin, Ross McCrorie, Ivor Pandur and Olwethu Makhanya as part of a significant squad overhaul.
Despite those centre-back additions in Godfrey and Makhanya, defence remains a priority. Rangers are still keen to sign two more defenders before the deadline, with John Souttar expected to leave before the transfer window closes after attracting interest from England, and specifically, Russell Martin’s Leicester City.
Latest on Bed Godfrey injury | |
|---|---|
Injury sustained | Godfrey was forced off in the 63rd minute of his Rangers debut against Dundee United after suffering a hamstring issue. |
Derek McInnes’ verdict | McInnes confirmed that Godfrey “felt his hamstring tighten up” and admitted it was an immediate concern, with the defender assessed by the club’s medical staff after the match. |
Current assessment | Rangers are awaiting the results of medical checks and scans on Monday to determine the severity of the problem. No official recovery timeline has yet been confirmed. |
Potential timeframe | Early reports suggest the best-case scenario is an absence of 2–3 weeks, although there are fears it could be longer depending on the scan results. |
Short-term consequences | Godfrey is now a doubt for Rangers’ upcoming Europa League qualifier against Jagiellonia Bialystok. |
Transfer impact | The setback should highlight the need for Rangers’ pursuit of another central defender or two. |
The need for reinforcements has become even more pressing following Godfrey’s injury during the opening-day 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw against Dundee United, leaving McInnes short of experienced options in central defence.
Godfrey’s competitive debut lasted just over an hour before suffering a hamstring issue, which will be scanned on Monday.
Rangers’ “enquiry” for Scott McKenna
According to reporter Robert Grieve, Rangers made an approach to sign former Aberdeen defender Scott McKenna, who previously flourished under McInnes at Pittodrie, on loan this summer.
However, he adds that a transfer is currently “highly unlikely” and would require a “massive shift” in circumstances, with the Gers currently exploring other options.
McKenna has built an impressive career since leaving Scottish football in 2020. The Scotland international with more than 50 international caps joined Nottingham Forest from Aberdeen before helping the club win promotion to the Premier League.
Loan spells followed at FC Copenhagen and Las Palmas, allowing him to gain experience in both Denmark and Spain before securing a move to Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb in 2025. There, the 29-year-old has established himself as a regular, making more than 40 appearances last season while competing in both domestic and European competition.
You can see why Rangers have shown an interest in the left-footed McKenna, who is dominant in the air and already knows exactly what McInnes expects from his centre-backs after working with him at Aberdeen.
Those qualities could make him a shrewd replacement should Souttar depart, however, right now, Rangers are looking elsewhere.
