Rangers are building a terrifyingly athletic backline under Derek McInnes

McInnes bets on physical dominance

Derek McInnes has wasted no time outlining his tactical vision at Ibrox. The appointment of the former Aberdeen manager signaled a return to pragmatic, high-tempo domestic realism. His first moves in the transfer market confirm this shift, focusing heavily on raw physical profile and defensive versatility.

The signing of Ross McCrorie on a three-year deal from Bristol City is the first chess piece. McCrorie is not the same raw utility player who left Glasgow in 2020. At 28, he returns as a full international with championship-tested tactical maturity.

McInnes knows exactly what he is getting. He previously signed McCrorie for Aberdeen, moulding him into a high-energy midfielder and aggressive right-sided defender. In his press conference, McInnes highlighted this growth, noting his determination to bring trophies back to Ibrox.

McCrorie himself echoed this sentiment in his interview with RangersTV. He expressed that returning to the club he supports is a dream come true, pointing out how much he has grown as a competitor since his first spell.

"I am not that little kid who was at Rangers back in the day, I have changed a lot character-wise, and player-wise I feel I have changed massively."

This transfer is more than just an emotional homecoming. It addresses a structural deficit in the squad. Rangers lacked recovery speed in transition last term, often caught out by mid-table blocks playing direct counter-attacking football.

McCrorie's physical metrics are impressive. His capacity to cover ground quickly allows McInnes to deploy a higher defensive line when chasing matches. His versatility also offers a tactical pivot, enabling mid-match shifts from a back four to a back three.

During his time at Pittodrie under McInnes, McCrorie was frequently used to shut down the opposition's primary ball-carrier, showing an appetite for defensive duels. This grit is precisely what McInnes wants to reintroduce to an Ibrox side that has occasionally looked soft in recent seasons.

But McCrorie is only half the equation. The agreement to sign Ben Godfrey on a season-long loan from Atalanta takes the athletic overhaul to another level, with Sky Sports News reporting that the English defender completed his medical on Saturday ahead of a season-long switch. The deal is expected to be finalized on Monday.

Godfrey has endured a nomadic period since his 2024 transfer to Bergamo from Everton. Loan spells at Ipswich, Sheffield United, and Brondby suggest a player struggling to find his tactical home. Yet, his raw traits remain elite.

Atalanta under Gian Piero Gasperini requires absolute positional discipline in a complex man-marking system. Godfrey, a defender who thrives on recovery sprints and raw physical duels rather than advanced spatial reading, was always a mismatch in Serie A. His loans reflected a search for a system that values block coverage over aggressive front-footed interception.

In his brief spell at Ipswich under Kieran McKenna, Godfrey was asked to play as a wide center-back in a possession-heavy system. At Sheffield United, he was thrust into a low-block fighting relegation. Neither role allowed him to showcase the recovery pace that originally prompted Everton to sign him from Norwich.

McInnes operates a different model. Rangers under his guidance are likely to defend in a structured mid-block, compressing the vertical space between the lines. In this setup, Godfrey does not need to step out into midfield to hunt ball-carriers.

Instead, Godfrey can focus on what he does best: locking down the channels and winning defensive duels. His pace provides a safety net behind McCrorie or James Tavernier if they push forward. If the loan deal includes a significant option to buy, it represents a calculated gamble on restoring a high-value asset to his peak physical form.

The Goalkeeper Conundrum

To make room for these senior arrivals, younger prospects are being sent out to develop. Midfielder Bailey Rice has joined Kilmarnock on a season-long loan after signing a new one-year contract extension. The 19-year-old saw his previous campaign ruined by injury, playing only in a League Cup match against Alloa.

At Rugby Park, Rice will work under former Rangers coaches Neil McCann and Billy Dodds. This is a sensible development pathway. Kilmarnock's playing style under McCann requires midfielders to accept the ball under pressure, which will accelerate Rice's progression.

While the defense is being fortified, a massive question mark hangs over the goalkeeper position. Jack Butland, a fixture since 2023, could be on the move. Rangers are in negotiations with Hull City over a swap deal involving Ivor Pandur.

Butland has made over 150 appearances in Glasgow, establishing himself as a fan favorite. His shot-stopping kept Rangers in title races they had no right to be in. Selling him or trading him for Pandur is a significant risk that could define McInnes's early tenure.

Pandur is a 26-year-old Croatian who joined Hull City in 2024. He has struggled to hold down a starting spot in the English Championship. Tactically, he is a different profile to Butland, preferring to play short passes out from the back.

At Hull, Pandur was signed to fit a system that demanded risk-taking from the goalkeeper during build-up play. In contrast, Butland's game is built on presence, box command, and traditional shot-stopping. If McInnes is prepared to swap Butland for Pandur, it indicates a desire to change how Rangers build attacks from the first phase.

If Butland departs, Rangers are also considering Manchester United's Radek Vitek as a potential alternative. The 22-year-old spent last season on loan at Bristol City, where he kept 12 clean sheets in 41 appearances. At 6'6", Vitek offers a commanding aerial presence that aligns with McInnes's emphasis on set-piece dominance.

Other names under consideration include Sebastiano Desplanches of Palermo and Sheffield Wednesday's Pierce Charles. This long list of targets suggests Rangers are prepared for Butland's exit. The wage savings from a Butland sale could fund the permanent acquisitions McInnes needs elsewhere.

Stability Versus Revolution

Across Glasgow, Celtic are taking a very different approach. The Hoops confirmed Martin O'Neill's backroom staff for the upcoming season, sticking with the veteran manager. At 74, O'Neill is the league's oldest boss, representing continuity over revolution.

Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham will remain as key assistants to O'Neill. Stephen McManus and Stevie Woods also continue in their roles. The only major departure is Gavin Strachan, who left Celtic to join West Brom earlier in the week.

O'Neill's direct, vertical style relies on a settled coaching staff to drill defensive shape and quick transitions. Losing Strachan is a blow, but retaining Maloney ensures Celtic keep a coach capable of designing intricate attacking patterns. The continuity in the dugout offers Celtic a stability that Rangers currently lack.

This coaching stability is mirrored in their squad management. Rather than stockpiling new recruits, Celtic are trimming the margins. Japanese defender Hayato Inamura has returned to FC Tokyo on a permanent transfer.

Inamura joined Celtic on a four-year contract last summer but struggled to adapt to the Scottish game. He made just one Premiership appearance before being loaned back to Tokyo in January. His permanent departure is an admission of a failed scouting mission.

The contrast between the two clubs is stark. Rangers are executing an aggressive rebuild centered on physical dominance. Celtic are banking on the experienced hand of O'Neill and a settled coaching unit to maintain their domestic dominance.

Hearts are also adjusting their squad, sanctioning the departure of Islam Chesnokov. The Kazakh winger has rejoined FC Tobol for an undisclosed fee, just six months after arriving in Edinburgh. Chesnokov made 11 appearances in maroon, scoring a memorable winner against Falkirk in February.

Chesnokov's quick departure highlights the difficulty of integrating winter signings into a settled team. Hearts decided to cut their losses early, prioritizing squad harmony over persevering with an unsettled player. This move allows them to focus on domestic targets who understand the league's physical demands.

For Rangers, the incoming physical power of McCrorie and Godfrey must translate into defensive stability immediately. The pressure on McInnes is intense. Replacing a figure like Butland while integrating a new backline is a high-wire act.

The tactical success of this rebuild will depend on how quickly Godfrey adapts to McInnes's zonal scheme. If the Englishman can rediscover the form that made him a £20 million player at Everton, Rangers will possess the most athletic defense in Scotland. If he struggles, Celtic's stable machine will coast to another title.