Ibrox View: Only 2 new signings to start, exit-linked ace out - Rangers predicted XI v Hearts

Philippe Clement could hand full debuts to two new signings – Jefte and Connor Barron – when Rangers face Hearts in their Scottish Premiership opener on Saturday (3 August).

The Gers rounded off pre-season with a 4-4 draw against Union Berlin last week (27 July). Cyriel Dessers scored twice, either side of a Tom Lawrence brace, in what proved to be a frantic end to pre-season in Germany.

Rangers start the new SPFL season after a major summer shakeup, and there is still a cloud of uncertainty surrounding players’ futures at the club. The Gers will look to put all of that aside and start the season in a winning fashion at Tynecastle.

Philippe Clement to usher in new era at Rangers

Jack Butland is the only player amongst the side that ended the 2023/24 SPFL season who is considered untouchable and will keep his place for the season opener.

In defence, captain James Tavernier should keep his place in the side despite his poor showing against Union Berlin. The right-back has been linked with a move to Trabzonspor throughout the summer (Sky Sports, 21 July), but Clement will surely use him in defence this weekend.

After Conor Goldson left Ibrox after six years for Aris Limassol (BBC Sport, 30 July), Ben Davies and John Souttar have been Clement’s preferred centre-back partnership throughout pre-season and are expected to start the match against Hearts.

Borna Barisic played his final match for the club in the final fixture last season but there is still no way into the side for exit-linked Ridvan Yilmaz, who finds himself on the fringes at Ibrox, so summer signing Jefte should be handed his SPFL debut.

Barron, another summer signing, will likely line up in centre-midfield alongside Mohammed Diomande, who Rangers paid £5m for after a successful loan spell at the club last season. The pair have started three of the club’s four pre-season matches together.

Scott Wright and Oscar Cortes have emerged as the preferred winger options during pre-season and impressed against Union Berlin, but with competition from Rabbi Matondo, who can play on either wing, they will need to impress against Hearts to keep their place in the side.

Tom Lawrence behind Cyriel Dessers is the easiest decision for Clement to make when selecting his lineup. Lawrence has been in sensational form in pre-season, scoring three goals, and Dessers, despite speculation surrounding his future, is still the club’s best option in attack.

Todd Cantwell is another who has been linked with a move away from Rangers, having handed in a transfer request, and he does not look likely to feature at Tynecastle.

The likes of Clinton Nsiala, Hamza Igamane and Vaclav Cerny will be eager to make their mark after arriving in the summer, but Clement will not want to completely rip up the starting XI for this first game.

In other Rangers news, the Light Blues terms for Todd Cantwell and Ianis Hagi’s exits have been announced amid exit speculation

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