Much Better than Dan Neil: Rangers star appears like he’ll deserve ₤ 35m next year

Sports analysis

Released Sep 19, 2026, 7:15 AM GMT +1

Daniel is a skilled football author and editor with more than a years of experience covering the expert video game, specialising in the Championship, Football League and Scottish football, along with extensive protection of Norwich City, Celtic and Rangers.

A reporter because 2015, Daniel started his profession composing for Fresh Press before advancing into a full-time writing and modifying function, producing club-focused protection for Read Norwich, Read Celtic, Read Liverpool and Read Arsenal. He later on invested practically a year with Liverpool-based outlet Anfield Watch, where his work consisted of performing and transcribing interviews with figures consisting of Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg, previous Wycombe striker Adebayo Akinfenwa and reporter Fabrizio Romano.

Daniel has actually dealt with Snack Media (now Valnet) considering that 2021, adding to Football FanCast as both an author and editor. His work focuses especially on gamer analysis, transfer insight and initial football functions, integrating comprehensive understanding of the video game with research-driven evaluation of gamers, clubs and possible relocations.

His professional understanding of Norwich City and the Football League has actually likewise seen him add to BBC Norfolk and help DAZN with research study for commentary broadcasts. As a Norwich City season-ticket holder, Daniel brings a level of first-hand understanding of the club and its gamers that matches his broader competence throughout the Championship and EFL. His Norwich protection has actually likewise included in publications consisting of the Coventry Telegraph and Liverpool Echo.

Together With his Football League proficiency, Daniel has actually covered Celtic and Rangers thoroughly, establishing a strong understanding of Scottish football. His work offers readers notified transfer evaluation, comprehensive gamer analysis and reliable insight into clubs and competitors he has actually invested years following and reporting on.

Among the unfortunate truths of where Glasgow Rangers remain in the European food cycle is that they require to establish and offer gamers to construct a sustainable trading design.

<p>The Light Blues require to generate young gamers with possible and support their advancement before offering them to larger European groups or clubs for a substantial revenue, to then money brand-new arrivals to enhance their team.</p>    


















                                                                                        <figure><picture>
    </picture><small>REUTERS/Russell Cheyne</small></figure>

They have actually done so effectively sometimes in the past, with the similarity Hamza Igamane and Calvin Bassey, however their city competitors have actually been more reliable than them because regard.

<p>After the 3-0 win over Celtic on Sunday, some fans might currently be taking a look at main midfielder Dan Neil as a gamer who might draw in interest in the future.</p>    
                    <strong>Why Rangers might not make a significant earnings on Dan Neil</strong>

The Light Blues skipper, who is keeping the armband warm throughout Lawrence Shankland’s injury lay-off, scored 2 superb objectives from the edge of package in the League Cup win over the Hoops last weekend.

Neil is rapidly becoming among Derek McInnes’essential entertainers in Glasgow, beginning each of his last 6 looks, however there is something that might put groups off from investing huge on him in the future.

<p>After beginning 44 of Sunderland's Championship matches on their method to promo in the 2024/25 project, supervisor Regis Le Bris chose that he did not have what it required to play in the Premier League.</p>    <div>

<tr>








<p>25/26 Premier League</p>    












<p>Dan Neil</p>    



        </tr>

<tr>


<td>


<p>Looks</p>    

</td>



<td>


<p>3</p>    

</td>

        </tr>



<tr>


<td>


<p>Begins</p>    

</td>



<td>




</td>

        </tr>



<tr>


<td>


<p>Minutes played</p>    

</td>



<td>


<p>13</p>    

</td>

        </tr>



<tr>


<td>


<p>Objectives</p>    

</td>



<td>




</td>

        </tr>



<tr>


<td>


<p>Assists</p>    

</td>



<td>




</td>

        </tr>



<tr>


<td>


<p>Unused replacement</p>    

</td>



<td>


<p>19x</p>    

</td>

        </tr>



<tr>


<td>


<p>Stopped working to make matchday team</p>    

</td>



<td>


<p>1x</p>    

</td>

        </tr>

        </div>

The 24-year-old skill just played 13 minutes throughout 3 looks before being shipped on loan to Ipswich Town before being launched on a totally free transfer previously this summertime, which permitted Rangers to snap him up for totally free.

                                                                                        <figure><picture>
    </picture><small>REUTERS/Craig Brough</small></figure>

Whilst gamers can establish and enhance, some clubs might take a look at his failure to develop himself at Sunderland, the group that he was captain of, and concern if he deserves investing substantial cash on in the future.

                    <strong>Rangers have a star who will deserve more than Dan Neil</strong>

Neil might not be cost big cash in the future, due to the black mark on his Premier League profession, however the Gers do have a gamer who has the possible to be worth millions by the end of the season.

In the summertime transfer window simply gone, the Scottish Premiership giants dove to sign main protector Olwethu Makhanya from Philadelphia Union for a modest cost of ₤ 3m.

<p>He got to Ibrox without any previous experience of European football under his belt, having actually just played in South Africa and the MLS, which suggested that he signed up with as a fairly unidentified gamer.</p>    <p>Groups throughout Europe might just now be finding him and his skills due to the fact that of his efficiencies for Rangers, which might </p><div data-img-url="https://pmnsports.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/localimages/makhanya-rangers-celtic.jpg" data-modal-id="single-image-modal" data-modal-container-id="single-image-modal-container" data-img-caption="" reuters cheyne> wind up being excellent and problem for the club. <source media="(max-width: 480px)" data-srcset="https://pmnsports.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/localimages/makhanya-rangers-celtic.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=500&dpr=2"> <source media="(max-width: 767px)" data-srcset="https://pmnsports.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/localimages/makhanya-rangers-celtic.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=800&dpr=2"> <source media="(max-width: 1023px)" data-srcset="https://pmnsports.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/localimages/makhanya-rangers-celtic.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2"> <img width="1650" height="826" loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="sports analysis Makhanya-rangers-celtic" src="https://pmnsports.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/localimages/makhanya-rangers-celtic.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2" previous-src="https://pmnsports.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/localimages/makhanya-rangers-celtic.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2">    


















                                                                                        <figure><picture>
    </picture><small>REUTERS/Russell Cheyne</small></figure>

    </source></source></source></div>

Last season, Rangers paid ₤ 3.5 m for Emmanuel Fernandez, and it was reported by the end of the project that he was valued at around ₤ 35m in the middle of interest from the similarity Arsenal, West Ham United, Chelsea, and Bayer Leverkusen.

<p>The Nigeria global might have stayed at Ibrox, however his skyrocketing market price in Glasgow is evidence that the club can offer gamers with a platform to advance and establish as gamers.</p>    <div>

<tr>








<p>26/26 Premiership</p>    












<p>Olwethu Makhanya</p>    



        </tr>

<tr>


<td>


<p>Looks</p>    

</td>



<td>


<p>5</p>    

</td>

        </tr>



<tr>


<td>


<p>Tidy sheets</p>    

</td>



<td>


<p>3</p>    

</td>

        </tr>



<tr>


<td>


<p>Pass precision</p>    

</td>



<td>


<p>87 %</p>    

</td>

        </tr>



<tr>


<td>


<p>Tackles + interceptions per video game</p>    

</td>



<td>


<p>2.0</p>    

</td>

        </tr>



<tr>


<td>


<p>Ball healings per video game</p>    

</td>



<td>


<p>5.4</p>    

</td>

        </tr>



<tr>


<td>


<p>Battles won per video game</p>    

</td>



<td>


<p>4.6</p>    

</td>

        </tr>



<tr>


<td>


<p>Ground battle success rate</p>    

</td>



<td>


<p>53 %</p>    

</td>

        </tr>



<tr>


<td>


<p>Aerial battle success rate</p>    

</td>



<td>


<p>54 %</p>    

</td>

        </tr>

        </div>

Makhanya’s start to life at Rangers recommends that he is currently well on his method to ending up being a ₤ 35m-rated centre-back like his colleague, since he has actually remained in great kind.

The Gers have actually kept 3 tidy sheets in 5 Premiership matches with the South Africa global in their defence, whilst he likewise played a crucial function in keeping a nothing versus Celtic last weekend.

Rangers have actually kept 5 tidy sheets in their last 7 video games with Makhanya as a starter. Whilst that is not totally to him, as there are other gamers in the defence, it does speak with the effect that he has actually had on the side.

<p>The Scottish giants had actually yielded 6 objectives in their very first 4 video games in all competitors before this outstanding run of protective type with the &#8356; 3m colossus in defence. </p>    


















                                                                                        <figure><picture><source media="(max-width: 767px)" data-srcset="https://pmnsports.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/localimages/makhanya-rangers-ibrox.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=800&dpr=2">
    </source></picture><small>REUTERS/Russell Cheyne</small></figure>

Whilst Neil has currently had a possibility to develop himself in a significant European league and stopped working, Makhanya is still brand-new to European football and might be an appealing target for groups aiming to generate an interesting up-and-coming centre-back.

<p>If he continues to provide outstanding efficiencies for Rangers, as Fernandez did last season, then he might likewise draw in interest from leading clubs and make a significant &#8356; 35m appraisal by this time next year.</p>    



















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