'I don't think that's dead in the water' - Journo backs Rangers to sign 'like-for-like' Barron replacement

Danny Rohl has been dealt a huge blow with the injury to Connor Barron.

Barron has been one of Rangers’ star players this season, with the 23-year-old midfielder putting in some excellent performances since Rohl‘s arrival in Glasgow.

However, in Rangers’ 2-0 win over Aberdeen on 6 January, Barron suffered a knee injury that could sideline him for the next three months.

Since then, Rohl has urged the 49ers to react to Barron’s ‘curveball’ injury by going back into the transfer market, despite the fact Tochi Chukwuani has arrived to shore things up in central midfield.

Andy Devlin predicts Danny Rohl swoop for Premier League outcast

Rangers are set for further upheaval to their midfield department, with Joe Rothwell and Kieran Dowell both expected to leave Ibrox this month.

Should those two – Rothwell in particular – leave, then Rohl’s central midfield options would all of a sudden be slightly more limited.

Chukwuani is still a relatively unknown quantity and isn’t guaranteed to hit the ground running in Scottish football, which would leave Nicolas Raskin, Mohamed Diamonade and Thelo Aasgaard as the other options.

Bailey Rice is also still to return from injury, but he looks like a strong candidate for a loan move away from Ibrox before the window shuts if he can prove his fitness.

So, a further addition in central midfield may not go amiss for Rangers, and speaking on the Scottish Sun Sport’s Go Ballistic transfer show, Andy Devlin believes Rohl could move for Sunderland’s Dan Neil.

“Dan Neil is one I would potentially look at there. I don’t think that’s dead in the water yet,” said Devlin.

“I think he’s a player that’s almost like-for-like with regards to Connor Barron, and I think he’s somebody that Danny Rohl might look to bring on board.

“Whether that’s just now, or whether that’s towards the end of the window, I think what has to happen now is players will need to leave.”

• Read more: Nicolas Raskin adamant on Rangers exit after new offer made at Ibrox

Dan Neil could jump at Rangers loan opportunity

Neil has strongly been linked with a move to Rangers this month, and is understood to be on Rohl’s radar.

However, given the money spent on Chukwuani and the fact Rangers’ midfield already has some top players in there, a loan deal may be the only avenue for a move to Glasgow for Neil this month.

The 24-year-old has only made three Premier League appearances so far this season, as he’s fallen victim to the signings of Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki respectively.

However, in 2024-25, he played an integral role in helping the Black Cats win promotion to the Premier League, making 44 regular season appearances as well as playing in each of Sunderland’s three play-off games.

During his time on Wearside, he established himself as one of the top central midfielders in the Championship, and hasn’t really had a chance to show that he can play at Premier League level.

Therefore, Rangers could strike gold with whatever kind of deal they could do for Neil, and he would soften the blow of losing Barron significantly.

Stay up to date this winter with our Rangers transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at Ibrox, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.

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