Why Rangers should part ways with Greg Docherty amidst interest
According to the Peterborough Telegraph, out-of-favour Rangers midfielder Greg Docherty has been linked with a move to EFL League One high-flyers Peterborough United.
The 23-year-old has been identified as a potential transfer target ahead of the January window by the Posh, who are keen to boost their chances of promotion to the Championship with some fresh recruits during the mid-season trading period. (h/t Peterborough Telegraph)
Docherty, who rose through the youth ranks of Hamiton Academical and made over 100 appearances for the Accies before completing a move to Rangers back in January 2018, has clocked up only 19 first-team appearances for the Ibrox giants so far.
The former Scotland U-21 international spent the entirety of the previous campaign on loan at Shrewsbury Town in EFL League One after being deemed surplus to requirements by manager Steven Gerrard. Docherty, though, impressed on loan away from Ibrox, with a tally of 10 goals and 11 assists in 50 appearances earning him Shrewsbury’s Player of the Year award.
Things looked to be heading in a positive direction for Docherty after Gerrard handed him a few starts in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers earlier in the campaign but the 23-year-old has found himself lost in the cold since August.
The midfielder is yet to make a single league appearance for the Gers this term and has even failed to make the matchday squads on most occasions, which is a clear indication of the fact that he is way down the pecking order at the club.
It is unclear from the report whether Peterborough United are looking at a loan deal or an outright transfer to bring Docherty to the Weston Homes Stadium, and it remains to be seen whether manager Darren Ferguson opts to firm up his interest in a player who worked wonders in the English third-tier last season.
To put things into perspective, Greg Docherty doesn’t really seem to have a big future at Ibrox and Rangers should pounce on the opportunity to cash in on their out-of-favour star when the transfer window reopens in January.
A loan deal until the end of the season would also make sense, given that Gerrard hasn’t really shown any kind of an inclination to use his services in the club’s league campaign so far.
It is worth reminding that Docherty arrived at Rangers before Gerrard took charge and the former Liverpool star has already spent heavily to revamp the club’s midfield since his appointment, with the likes of Steven Davis, Joe Aribo and Glenn Kamara all coming through the door at Ibrox in recent transfer windows.
Verdict
With Davis, Ryan Jack, Kamara, Aribo and Scott Arfield all competing for three midfield spots in Gerrard’s preferred 4-3-3 system and utility man Andy Halliday more than a decent backup in the ranks, Docherty’s situation looks unlikely to change in the coming months, unless, of course, the squad is hit by a massive injury crisis.
The 23-year-old proved his worth as a decent creative central midfielder with a good eye for goal during his loan spell at Shrewsbury Town last season, and looking at things from Docherty’s perspective, it is high time for him to settle down permanently elsewhere, given that his future at Rangers looks bleak.
Joining another club in Scotland would only be a step backward for the midfielder while the EFL Championship might be a step too far at this stage. However, he is no stranger to the EFL League One and a return to the English third-tier could help him regain his confidence and start afresh.
More Rangers News
- Why Lyle Taylor could be an impressive signing for Rangers
- Why Rangers should beat Celtic to sign St. Mirren wonder kid Dylan Reid
- Why Jarrad Branthwaite must snub Celtic and join Rangers
All in all, Rangers parting ways with Greg Docherty in January could make perfect sense for all parties involved.
