Journalist: Koppen ought to talk to British defender on 1 January to join Rangers, exit on cards

Rangers chief Nils Koppen ought to be speaking to Aberdeen defender Jack MacKenzie over a potential transfer, states Scott McDermott.

The Daily Record journalist believes that signing the 24-year-old on a free transfer should be a no brainer for the Ibrox outfit.

Koppen is believed to want a Scottish core at the club and the left-back is unlikely to sign a new deal at Pittodrie so he can be secured on a pre-contract deal.

McDermott wrote: “Here’s one task he (Koppen) should be able to get done with relative ease. On January 1, he ought to be speaking to Aberdeen left-back Jack MacKenzie and getting him tied up on a pre-contract deal. Koppen wants Rangers to have more of a Scottish core.

“And in years gone by it was common practice for them to suck up the best talent from other top-flight clubs – the likes of Nacho Novo, Kris Boyd, Ryan Jack and others. Abandoning that policy in recent years is another reason why they find themselves currently miles behind Celtic.

“But signing MacKenzie should be a no-brainer. The full-back is available on a free and highly unlikely to sign a new deal at Pittodrie.”

Jack MacKenzie will be a quality signing for Rangers

Securing the Scotsman’s services on a free transfer would be a strategic coup for the Ibrox outfit.

At 24, MacKenzie represents a blend of youth and experience, fitting into the club’s strategy of building a squad with a strong Scottish core, which not only boosts local support but also ensures player acclimatisation is smoother.

His attributes as a dependable and reliable left-back could address the current depth issues at Rangers, especially with Jefte being the primary choice and Ridvan Yilmaz’s battling injury issues all year.

By signing MacKenzie without shelling out a transfer fee, Rangers can allocate funds elsewhere, potentially stregnthening the less-important areas.

As McDermott’s mentioned, this move harks back to the club tradition of absorbing top Scottish talent from rivals, a practice that has historically strengthened their squad.

Koppen will have to act quickly as clubs in the English Championship are also understood to be keen on securing his services. [The Sun]

In other Rangers news, an update emerges on a manager who was extremely keen on taking over at Ibrox.

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