'Quite Bizarre' - Pundit view: Conversations behind scenes already for Rangers signing to leave

Philippe Clement has made a serious mistake in signing Robin Propper and conversations will be held behind the scenes about the defender leaving Rangers, says Derek Ferguson.

The Dutchman was signed from FC Twente in the summer transfer window as the nominal replacement for former vice-captain Connor Goldson, but has struggled to settle, especially for domestic games.

Ferguson believes that the 31-year-old is not proving to be an upgrade on Goldson, or even back-up option Ben Davies who is currently out on loan with Birmingham.

The tentative and slow style of play that Propper has exhibited since he arrived at Ibrox suggests he isn’t suited to the Scottish game, and the “bizarre” signing could be undone at the earliest opportunity.

Kris Boyd intimated live on Sky Sports earlier in the season (15 September) that Propper was too “soft” for the Scottish Premiership, to the surprise of even Chris Sutton.

The centre-back has now made 14 appearances but was left on the bench for the duration of the past three domestic games against Aberdeen and Hearts in the league, as well as the League Cup semi final against Motherwell, as the under-pressure Clement seemingly believed he couldn’t risk him.

Michael Stewart claimed live on Premier Sports during the 2-1 Rangers win at Hampden (3 November) that the manager had made a major statement by leaving Propper on the bench when Leon Balogun went off injured, sending on Neraysho Kasanwirjo instead.

And Ferguson feels both player and coach will likely already be looking at ways to rectify the mistake they made in signing him for the club.

Rangers fail to upgrade on Ben Davies or Connor Goldson

Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News he said: “He just doesnae fit the bill. So it’s bizarre that [Clement] brought him in the first place. He was brought to play, I think he was brought in to be like a captain in there, a real leader.

“And now he finds himself on the bench, and he’s at an age where he needs to play so I don’t think he’ll want to warm the bench.

“There’ll be conversations between him and the manager behind the scenes. From my point of view at the moment it looks like one the manager’s got wrong big time.

“His lack of pace as well. You don’t want to slaughter him but he looks so slow and he plods about so if he goes up against most of the teams in our league, in the top six, he’ll get ripped apart.

“He looks as if he’s somebody that’s come back from a long lay off, from an injury.

“To me he looks timid. And they let Davies go, he’s away to Birmingham, and that was the criticism labeled at Davies, that he lacked the physicality, the power, but it’s like bringing in like for like.

“We let Goldson go because we think his legs have gone, so again it’s quite bizarre that we’ve brought Propper into the club. Clearly it doesn’t suit him, the style of play in Scotland.”

In other Rangers news, growing evidence is thought to suggest it is inevitable that a talented manager is on his way towards the Ibrox job.

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