Glasgow Rangers were dealt a big blow back in April earlier this year when versatile star Dujon Sterling suffered a long-term Achilles injury.
The English star had to be stretchered off during a Europa League clash, and Barry Ferguson confirmed after the game that he would be a long-term absentee for the Gers.
Sterling had to have surgery on the injury and it now remains to be seen when the versatile Rangers man will be available for action again for the Scottish Premiership giants.
He has played 70 times, in a multitude of positions, for the Light Blues since his move from the Premier League side in 2023, and the club could repeat their success with him by signing another player from Chelsea.
Rangers in talks to sign Chelsea defender
The Ibrox giants can find themselves a quality defensive option by raiding Chelsea for another player who is unlikely to break into their first-team squad next season.
Transfer Focus
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According to football.london reporter Bobby Vincent, Rangers are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign Ishe Samuels-Smith from the English side this summer to bolster Russell Martin’s options at the back.
The journalist claims that the Gers have held club-to-club talks with Chelsea to sign the full-back on loan, whilst Sunderland, Middlesbrough, and Stoke City are also keen on snapping him up.
Vincent adds that Rangers, and three English teams, are pushing to secure the 19-year-old left-back, who was signed from Everton for £4m in 2023, on loan for the 2025/26 campaign, with his future set to be ‘clearer’ within the next two weeks.
Why Rangers should sign Ishe Samuels-Smith
Whilst it may not be a permanent deal, as it was with Sterling, Rangers should sign Samuels-Smith from Chelsea because he could follow in the footsteps of the last signing from the Blues.
As aforementioned, Sterling has been an incredibly versatile operator for the Gers, playing at right-back, right midfield, defensive midfield, left-back, and centre-back during his time in Glasgow so far.
In Samuels-Smith, Rangers could find another versatile star who can operate in a host of different positions to cover when needed for Martin, as a terrific squad option.
The 19-year-old is yet to make a senior appearance in his career, which makes it difficult to predict what his role in the squad will be, but his positions at youth level for Chelsea and Everton show that he could be called upon in several areas of the pitch.
Left-back
47
Centre-back
26
Left-midfield
5
Right-back
2
Defensive midfield
1
As you can see in the table above, Samuels-Smith is similar to Sterling in the sense that he has the potential to play as a full-back, a centre-back, or as a defensive midfielder, albeit as a left-sided option primarily, instead of a right-sided one.
In terms of his quality, his former Everton coach David Unsworth claimed that he has an “incredible future” ahead of him, whilst analyst Kai Watson believes that he has “elite” potential.
The post above also shows that he impressed Watson at U21 level in the Premier League 2 last season, which suggests that the teenage sensation would arrive at Ibrox this summer full of confidence to take on his first go at senior football.
Overall, as a low-risk loan move, Samuels-Smith could be a smart signing for the Gers as an extremely versatile young talent with the potential to offer value in multiple positions, possibly making him excellent cover for Sterling until he returns from his injury.
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