Rangers’ busy summer recruitment drive shows no signs of slowing down. Since Russell Martin took over at Ibrox, the club has already welcomed six new faces, with the latest being Nasser Djiga, who has joined on a season-long loan.
Djiga joins Lyall Cameron, Max Aarons, Joe Rothwell, Emmanuel Fernandez, and Thelo Aasgaard as part of the new-look squad. But Rangers may not be done yet, as they now look to add a highly experienced centre-back to strengthen their back line.
Defensive Reinforcements Ahead of Champions League Push
The new season is fast approaching, and with Rangers kicking off their Champions League qualifying campaign in just ten days against Panathinaikos, manager Russell Martin is eager to shore up his defence.
Last Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Club Brugge, in which Rangers clawed back from a two-goal deficit with second-half goals from Mohamed Diomandé and youngster Findlay Curtis, showed resilience in attack but highlighted concerns at the back.
To address those issues, Sky Sports News reports that Rangers remain interested in signing Conor Coady from Leicester City. Earlier this summer, Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke revealed that the club were already in advanced talks with the Foxes, though no deal has materialised yet.
According to Rob Tanner of The Athletic, Leicester are open to letting go of high-earning players following their drop to the Championship—an opportunity Rangers could look to capitalise on quickly.
Why Coady Makes Sense for Rangers
Though Rangers currently have seven senior centre-backs, that number may soon drop to six as Robin Pröpper appears close to a return to FC Twente—a move Russell Martin has confirmed.
Among the remaining defenders, new arrival Nasser Djiga looks poised to become a regular starter, thanks to his experience in both the Champions League with Red Star Belgrade and the Premier League with Wolves.
John Souttar, who made 40 appearances last season, may be Djiga’s partner for now, but if Coady arrives, the Scotland international could find himself relegated to the bench.
Coady brings not just experience, but also leadership and technical ability. Former teammate James Tarkowski described him as a “great leader,” while Everton boss Sean Dyche praised his “immaculate” professionalism.
Tactically, Coady’s strength in distribution would be a major asset for Martin’s possession-based approach. In fact, in the 2019/20 Premier League season, Coady completed more accurate long passes than any other player—a skill that could help Rangers control games domestically and adapt quickly in Europe.
Coady vs Souttar – The Numbers
Given Coady’s limited playing time at Leicester, his stats from the past two seasons have been analyzed to offer a fair comparison. He clearly outperforms Souttar in several key areas:
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Passing: Attempts 17 more passes and five more forward passes per 90 minutes
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Defensive Work: Registers more interceptions, ball recoveries, and touches per game
These metrics reinforce the idea that Coady is not only a strong fit for Rangers’ tactical needs but also an upgrade in experience and composure at the back.
Final Thoughts
With Champions League qualifiers fast approaching, bringing in Conor Coady could prove to be a smart and timely move. His leadership, defensive reliability, and ability to play out from the back make him a natural fit for Russell Martin’s system. Rangers would be wise to push this deal over the line without delay.
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