It is fair to say that Glasgow Rangers did not kick off the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership campaign in the way that they wanted to at Fir Park on Saturday.
The Ibrox giants faced Motherwell away from home in Russell Martin’s first league game in charge of the club, and failed to pick up all three points.
A late equaliser from Emmanuel Longelo, after captain James Tavernier had given the Gers the lead in the first half, secured a point for the home side, in a game which left the Light Blues boss seething.
Extraordinarily, Martin told some of his players to “drop their egos” and accused unnamed players of doing what they wanted to do and jogging around, rather than putting in maximum effort and listening to the instructions that they were given, in his post-match interview.
Only the Rangers boss will know exactly who he was referencing with his rather scathing comments, but anyone who watched the match will be able to identify the players who were not up to it from a quality perspective.
Why Rangers need to drop Danilo
Brazilian centre-forward Danilo was one of the Gers players who did not do enough on the pitch to suggest that he deserves to keep his place in the starting XI.
Partially due to fitness issues for Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane, the former Feyenoord attacker has started all three of the club’s games this season, lining up for both legs against Panathinaikos and the draw with Motherwell.
Danilo, who scored five goals in 24 appearances in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, did not provide a single goal or assist in any of those three matches for the Gers.
Igamane and Dessers not being fully fit to start provided the 24-year-old attacker with a huge opportunity to show Martin that he has what it takes to be a key player this season, but he failed to do so.
Minutes
74
82
63
Shots on target
0
1
0
Passes completed
11
9
10
Key passes
2
0
1
Big chances created
0
0
0
Ground duels won
1
1
1
Aerial duels won
0
1
0
As you can see in the table above, Danilo offered very little threat across the three matches, with just one shot on target and zero ‘big chances’ created.
After the draw with Motherwell, former Rangers striker Kris Boyd said that the Brazilian is “not working” as the sole number nine and that Dessers should start.
The Light Blues could, though, sign a new centre-forward to start over both of them, and there is one reported target who is now being told that he would be a huge success at Ibrox.
Rangers transfer target tipped to run riot at Ibrox
Rangers have been linked with an interest in signing free agent number nine Jamie Vardy, who left Leicester City when his contract expired at the end of last season.
Now, former Gers defender David Robinson has told the former England international that he would “run riot” in Glasgow if he made the move to the Scottish giants this summer.
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Robinson told Ibrox News: “I think he would run riot in Scotland, to be honest. I think the whole club, it would change everything.
“He’s still got the pace about him. No offence to the other teams in Scotland, he would cause them so many problems because he plays on the shoulder and runs in behind. If Rangers played a little more direct with Vardy, he would make that difference.”
It remains to be seen whether or not the experienced marksman wants to make the move to Ibrox, but he could come in as a big upgrade on Danilo if he does.
Why Rangers should sign Jamie Vardy
As Robinson said, Vardy is still an incredibly mobile player who will cause defenders constant problems with his running and his physicality, as shown by his performances in the Premier League last year.
Extraordinarily, the 38-year-old star plundered nine goals and four assists in the English top-flight for Leicester, despite playing in a side that were relegated from the division.
The former Premier League champion started 35 times and showcased his physical qualities by winning 48% of his ground duels and 48% of his aerial battles for the Foxes.
Meanwhile, Danilo lost 61% of his ground duels and 71% of his aerial duels across 23 appearances in the Premiership for Rangers in the 2024/25 campaign, which suggests that he is a liability to the team out of possession.
Appearances
35
35
Goals
18
9
Conversion rate
31%
16%
Big chances created
2
6
Assists
2
4
Ground duel success rate
46%
48%
Aerial duel success rate
52%
48%
As you can see in the table above, Vardy has held his own in duels in both the Championship and the Premier League over the past two seasons, despite his age, which suggests that he would be a big upgrade on Danilo in terms of what the striker offers to the team as a physical presence.
The English icon could also come in at Ibrox as a big upgrade on Danilo because of the goal threat that he can provide in the number nine position.
Vardy has scored 27 league goals in the last two seasons. Meanwhile, the Brazilian attacker has scored nine goals in the Premiership for Rangers in that time.
These statistics suggest that the 38-year-old marksman could be more likely to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch over the course of the season for Martin, which is why he could be a fantastic addition to the squad.
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It is now down to the club to make a move for the English star, though, and to convince him to make the switch to Ibrox to “run riot” as a big upgrade on Danilo.
