Grant Hanley could be Rangers' new Braveheart, says Colin Hendry

Blackburn Rovers' Grant Hanley (PA Archive)

COLIN HENDRY was the rock at the heart of the Rangers defence that helped win the domestic Treble in 1999.

The man they dubbed Braveheart is too modest to say he’s exactly the sort of player the current Light Blues side require. But he would love to see them sign Blackburn Rovers and Scotland stopper, Grant Hanley.

Questions marks had been raised all season about the suitability of the Rob Kiernan-Danny Wilson partnership, and they were badly exposed in last week’s Scottish Cup Final defeat to Hibs.

With Mark Warburton’s men stepping up a level to play in the Premiership next season, Hendry insists the club must deal seriously in the transfer market during the summer.

Hanley is rated at around £1.8 million by the Ewood Park club, and would command around £20,000-a-week in wages. But Hendry is sure that would be an excellent investment by the Ibrox side.

“I think Rangers need a more balanced squad next season,” said Hendry. “There needs to be more experience in the team and they should be looking at signing a centre-half.

“In last week’s Cup Final, Rangers didn’t move in unison as a team. They didn’t push up the park quickly enough. They seemed to allow Anthony Stokes too much room and he found little pockets of space to hurt them.

“Yet when Andy Halliday put them 2-1 ahead, I really fancied Rangers to win the game. But their inability to defend set-pieces cost them dearly. They definitely have defensive issues.

“There needs to be players of a certain ilk in the spine of their team. Are they looking to bring in a new keeper?

“Listen, we all know it comes down to finances and it’s hard to compete with the cash that’s going about down south.

“But if they have a chunk of their budget set aside for a centre-half, then I would look at Grant Hanley. He is 24 and still learning his trade, but he has improved significantly in the past two years and now has more than 200 first-team games under his belt.

“It’s been rumoured Fulham are willing to pay £1.5 million for him. I know for
certain that two or three English Premier League clubs watched him closely and will continue to sniff around.

“But even if Rangers could come up with a package, would the boy want to go and play in Scottish football just now? If he asked for my advice, I’d tell him to join Rangers, for sure.

“However, maybe Mark Warburton and Davie Weir would prefer a centre-half in his late 20s or early 30s, a player who is still physically fit and also has a wealth of experience under his belt.

“We’ll wait and see. It will be interesting to see what happens. But it’s all about budgets.”

The Ibrox club showed they can compete with some of the riches down south when they enticed Joey Barton to reject Burnley’s offer of Premier League football to move north on a two-year deal.

Barton has insisted he will be an asset to his new club, and has already spoken about his desire to be the best player in the country next season.

Hendry is certain the veteran midfielder will be a huge success and said: “I mentioned the need for a good spine in the team, and Joey Barton will most definitely provide part of that in the holding-midfield area.

“Get a defender behind him of a similar ilk, and you just have your runners down the side and in the No. 10 position to bring that required balance.

“Barton has had his critics over the years and has had his problems, but he has settled down and matured. He still has his opinions on different matters and I don’t have a problem with that – but he will also do his talking on the pitch.

“I watched Burnley on TV several times last season and they were very good. Barton was at the heart of their team and he dictated the flow of the game. He will do very well for Rangers and he will inspire the youngsters around him.

“I’m aware he is highly fancied to be red-carded in his first Old Firm game, but I don’t agree. He does not allow himself to be wound up these days, and those players who deliberately target him will find that he will not take the bait.

“His aim is to be a part of a successful Rangers team and to win silverware on a regular basis. He knows that can only be achieved by staying on the park and concentrating on football. He will not allow any sideshows to distract him.

“Between his arrival and Brendan Rodgers’ at Celtic, it’s all set up for a brilliant season in Scotland.”

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