Could a single signing be the missing piece for Rangers' Scottish Premiership title aspirations? It's a question echoing through the halls of Scottish football after a recent goalless draw left the Gers trailing league leaders Hearts by six points. This stalemate at Hibernian marked the end of a six-game winning streak and has ignited a crucial debate: do Rangers possess the attacking firepower to go all the way this season, or is a new striker an absolute necessity before the January transfer window slams shut?
Following the frustrating draw at Easter Road, former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday voiced his concerns, questioning if his old club has enough attacking dynamism to clinch the 2025-26 top-flight title. Manager Danny Rohl, while not ruling out further arrivals, also expressed confidence in his current squad, stating, "I trust the club will make the right decisions... If not, I'll carry on with my group because they've shown big character in the past couple of weeks." This suggests a cautious optimism from the boss, but the pressure is undoubtedly mounting.
But here's where it gets controversial... Halliday was quite blunt, stating on Sportsound, "From open play, Rangers lack so much creativity and the penalty-box striker to get the goals required to win the league." The statistics from the Hibernian match paint a stark picture: only two shots on target were registered by Rangers, with an expected goals (xG) rating of a mere 0.53. Even more telling, the starting front three – Youssef Chermiti, Andreas Skov Olsen, and Djeidi Gassama – managed a combined six touches in the opposition's penalty area. Meanwhile, Hibs themselves created more dangerous opportunities, boasting an xG of 1.88.
Rohl acknowledged his team didn't deserve the win, admitting, "In such a game you need this magic moment. In the end we did not deserve the three points." He pointed to areas for improvement, noting, "first half we had two less players into the box - this is a part we can improve." He also highlighted the opponent's strong defensive effort, adding, "You have to break them down, you need the extra pass."
And this is the part most people miss... While Rohl has earned significant praise for transforming Rangers' fortunes since taking over from Russell Martin, steering them into a title race, the underlying attacking statistics from open play remain a concern. Under Rohl, Rangers have been solid defensively, keeping 10 clean sheets in 16 league games and going four league matches without conceding. They've also impressed with set-piece goals. However, the struggle to create from open play persists.
Former Premiership midfielder Scott Allan echoed these sentiments on Sportsound, observing, "In that final third, there are still huge questions for Rangers." He highlighted Mikey Moore's impact as a positive, but noted that "other than him, Rangers were devoid of any real ideas and quality in the final third."
Looking at the season-long statistics for the 2025-26 Premiership, Rangers sit fifth for open-play goals and fourth for open-play xG. However, since Rohl's appointment, these numbers see a slight improvement, with Rangers climbing to fourth for open-play goals and an impressive second for open-play xG. This suggests Rohl's system is creating more chances, but the finishing touch is still lacking.
The current top scorers for Rangers in the league are telling: right-back James Tavernier leads the way with six goals (three from penalties), followed by centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez with four. The actual strikers – Chermiti, Danilo, and Bojan Miovski – have only managed three goals between them. This highlights a significant reliance on defenders for goals, a worrying trend for a team aiming for the title.
Rumors are swirling about potential new forwards, with Ryan Naderi of Hansa Rostock and Cameron Archer from Southampton being linked. However, any new signing will need service to thrive. The hope is that the statement signing, Andreas Skov Olsen, can provide this. The Danish winger, who previously scored 49 goals and provided 30 assists at Club Brugge, is still building his match fitness after a dip in form at Wolfsburg. Rohl remains "very positive" about his potential.
Ultimately, whether Rangers can bridge the six-point gap hinges on Rohl's ability to inspire more clinical finishing from his current squad or secure a proven goalscorer in the remaining hours of the transfer window. The question remains: are Rangers truly title contenders without a more potent attacking threat? What do you think? Is a new striker the absolute key, or can the current squad find the magic needed to win the league? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
