Rangers will need to plug gaps and upgrade in several positions this summer and Philippe Clement has already been linked with potential new signings.
One area that will need to be looked at is in defence, with question marks at left-back and in the middle.
When Rangers signed Dujon Sterling in 2023, it looked like he had been brought to fill a few holes, but could Philippe Clement be about to repeat the move as We Are West Ham presenter James Jones explains.
What Ben Johnson would bring to Rangers
Ben Johnson has been mentioned as a possible Rangers target since the winter transfer window with the West Ham defender approaching the end of his contract.
Like Sterling, he won’t be short of offers and a has a solid reputation in England, as told to Rangers News by Jones:
“Johnson is a decent mid-table Premier League standard defender, who can play either side of the defence.
“In recent months Moyes had started occasionally deploying him in midfield as an impact sub and his performances there were surprisingly impressive.
“He’s decent on the ball and is a competent dribbler.
“Defensively he’s pretty good but does struggle in his attacking duties. That’s evident in his record of just two assists in 109 appearances for the club – he’s started 70 of those.
“It would be sad to see him leave this summer as he’s a solid squad player to have and his new-found versatility could come in handy in future.
“I have no doubt he’d thrive in the SPFL though – regular game time is what he needs to reach his full potential.”
Do Rangers need Ben Johnson?
Ben Johnson sounds eerily similar to Dujon Sterling.
Even a quick check at where he has played most of his football suggests that they share similar traits.
Johnson being available on a Bosman deal makes him an interesting proposition, but Rangers simply don’t need him.
The only explanation for Clement to want to sign another player who can cover at right-back, left-back and defensive midfield, is that he sees Sterling purely as a midfielder going forward.
The two full-back positions are set with Ridvan Yilmaz and James Tavernier, again, unless Clement has plans to move the latter on, however, reports of interest from Saudi Arabia have been dealt with by the skipper.
Johnson fits the type of profile of player that Rangers need this summer: young, good potential, cheap to bring to the club and capable of being developed and sold at a profit.
If he was a natural left-back or left footed, it would make more sense.
A player like Ben Johnson will be wanting guarantees of first-team football if he is to leave West Ham for Rangers, and that’s something that just can’t be given.