Incoming Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell will be fully aware of the scale of the task ahead as he prepares to take up his role at Ibrox this summer.
While Thelwell has performed admirably in difficult conditions at Everton, changes under new American ownership are prompting his move to Scotland. One of his key early responsibilities at Rangers will be reducing the club’s wage bill, which includes offloading several underperforming or fringe players.
Among the biggest issues is the situation with high-earning winger Rabbi Matondo, who is expected to return to Ibrox after a loan spell at Hannover 96. The German club had the option to sign him permanently for around £1 million if they secured promotion, but that now looks unlikely after they fell out of contention. Manager Andre Breitenreiter has since been dismissed, and sporting director Marcus Mann has indicated that only players who are part of next season’s plans will feature in the final games — ruling out loan players like Matondo.
Thelwell’s challenge is compounded by the financials. Rangers had hoped to save around £4.2 million annually by permanently offloading four loan players. While Kieran Dowell and Ben Davies have fared well at Birmingham, the futures of Matondo and Jose Cifuentes — currently on loan at Aris Thessaloniki — are more uncertain. Aris are reportedly seeking to renegotiate the purchase option for Cifuentes.
Matondo, signed by former sporting director Ross Wilson for £3 million from Schalke in 2022, has struggled with injuries and hasn’t made a meaningful impact in Glasgow. With wages of £23,000 per week (about £1.2 million annually), offloading him will be a top priority for Thelwell. A move to the English Championship could be on the cards following the winger’s recent goal for Wales.
Resolving Matondo’s future will be one of the first key decisions Thelwell must make as he steps into the role vacated by Wilson in April 2023.
