Rangers are edging closer to a potential takeover as Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises continue discussions to seal a deal.
Years of mismanagement and off-pitch instability have plagued the club, with last year’s departures of John Bennett and James Bisgrove highlighting the depth of internal issues.
Compounding the situation is Rangers’ underwhelming approach to player trading, which has contributed to ongoing financial challenges and made it increasingly difficult to match Celtic’s success.
The prospective takeover by the US-based consortium brings with it a major task list, not least of which is deciding whether interim boss Barry Ferguson remains part of the club’s future.
49ers Set to Inject Major Funds into Rangers Post-Takeover
Once the takeover is finalized, Paraag Marathe—head of the 49ers Enterprises—is expected to oversee a significant financial investment into the playing squad.
With Rangers currently 13 points adrift of Celtic in the Premiership and having missed repeated opportunities to close the gap, a fresh injection of quality and depth is sorely needed. Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Ibrox to Hibernian (5 April) further underscored that reality.
Cavenagh and the 49ers are reportedly preparing a substantial transfer budget to bolster the squad and push the Light Blues back into contention.
Shift in Transfer Strategy on the Horizon at Ibrox
James Tavernier is expected to be among the first big names to depart once the Americans take over. The veteran right-back has just one year left on his contract, and at 33, the timing seems right for a parting of ways.
Rangers have a poor record of monetizing their player assets. Key figures like Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos left without generating transfer fees, despite attracting interest during their time in Glasgow.
The 49ers, however, have already proven their competence in this area at Leeds United. According to *Record Sport*, the English club made £73 million in player trading profits during the 2022/23 season. That trend continued last summer, with major outgoings including Archie Gray to Tottenham, Georginio Rutter to Brighton, and Crysencio Summerville to West Ham.
At Rangers, the new regime may look to build around promising talents such as Hamza Igamane, who could draw attention from English clubs by season’s end. Nico Raskin has also enhanced his reputation, recently impressing for Belgium on international duty.
One challenge ahead is the looming contract expiry of Ianis Hagi. If the Romanian leaves on a free transfer next summer, it would be another missed opportunity to generate funds.
For Rangers supporters, the hope is that the 49ers can finalize the takeover soon and begin laying the foundation for long-term success on and off the pitch.
