NafisaAs Rangers continue shaping their squad for a new era under Danny Rohl, recruitment decisions made this summer could have a major influence on whether the club can finally close the gap at the top of Scottish football.
The Ibrox hierarchy are expected to be active in multiple areas of the transfer market, with several positions requiring attention following a season that ultimately ended without league success. While attacking reinforcements and midfield additions remain on the agenda, few roles carry more significance than the one currently under the spotlight at right-back.
Replacing an established figure is never straightforward, particularly when that player has spent a decade serving the club and has been one of the most productive performers in his position anywhere in Europe.
That challenge now awaits Rangers.
One of the biggest assignments facing Glasgow Rangers and Danny Rohl at Ibrox this summer is replacing long-serving club captain James Tavernier.
The English defender will officially depart Glasgow upon the expiry of his contract at the end of June, bringing to a close ten seasons with the Scottish Premiership giants following his arrival from Wigan in 2015.
Tavernier accumulated 144 goals and 148 assists in 565 appearances across all competitions for the Light Blues during his decade at Ibrox, consistently providing a significant attacking outlet from the right-back position.
Whilst the veteran defender would undoubtedly have preferred to collect more than one Scottish Premiership title during his spell with the club, the 34-year-old still leaves behind an impressive legacy.
He captained Rangers to a Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt and led Steven Gerrard’s side to an unbeaten league triumph during the memorable 2020/21 campaign.
£3m Rangers target excited by potential Ibrox switch:
Although Tavernier’s Rangers career may not have concluded on the smoothest note — having missed the final two matches of the season following a disagreement with Danny Rohl regarding his omission from the starting XI against Hibernian — supporters can still recognise his contribution over the years.
Attention has now turned towards identifying his successor, and Rangers appear to have already begun laying the groundwork behind the scenes.
According to TEAMtalk, Glasgow Rangers are interested in securing Hammarby right-back Hampus Skoglund during the upcoming summer transfer window.
The report suggests the 22-year-old is attracted by the prospect of playing at Ibrox and is enthusiastic about the possibility of working under Rohl while also competing in European football.
It further claims that the Light Blues have already established contact with his representatives regarding a potential transfer and currently find themselves in pole position to land the Swedish defender.
The next stage would involve reaching an agreement with Hammarby for the player, who is reportedly valued at around £3m, as Rangers continue their search for Tavernier’s replacement.
Why Hampus Skoglund could benefit Rangers’ attacking players:
Whilst much of the discussion naturally centres around replacing Tavernier and what he offered from right-back, Skoglund’s arrival could also have a positive impact on Rangers’ attacking options on the right side, particularly Djeidi Gassama.
As effective as Tavernier was throughout his career, the Englishman often operated as one of Rangers’ primary creative outlets, demanding large amounts of possession in order to influence matches.
That frequently meant the right winger ahead of him was tasked with drawing defenders away and creating space for Tavernier to attack, rather than being the focal point of attacks themselves.
Interestingly, during the 2025 Allsvenskan season, Skoglund surrendered possession almost 300 fewer times than Tavernier did in the Premiership this term, while still producing the same number of assists.
Those figures suggest the Swedish full-back can offer creativity without dominating possession to the same extent, potentially creating a more balanced dynamic on the right flank.
That could be particularly beneficial for Gassama, who may find himself receiving the ball more often in advanced positions rather than primarily creating openings for overlapping runs.
The former Sheffield Wednesday winger demonstrated flashes of real quality during his first season at Ibrox, registering three goals and five assists in 38 Premiership appearances.
However, consistency in the final third remains an area for improvement.
The addition of a more measured and possession-efficient full-back like Skoglund could help unlock further productivity from Gassama by increasing the number of attacking situations he is involved in.
For that reason alone, Rangers’ wide players may be hoping the club can get a deal over the line for the Swedish defender in the coming weeks, as his arrival could subtly improve the entire balance of the right-hand side.
Nafisa
