Glasgow Rangers are on the verge of the Premiership title as they enter the last eight games of the season.
Their path to victory is clear: win all remaining league matches, and they’ll claim their first title since the 2020/21 season. Yet, facing Celtic twice in these crucial fixtures poses a challenge.
However, under Philippe Clement’s leadership, Rangers are brimming with confidence and are unfazed by Celtic’s intermittent struggles under Brendan Rodgers.
Despite scoring 67 league goals this season, which is seven fewer than Celtic, the Gers have maintained a league-best defensive record, conceding just 17 goals.
Their success has largely been attributed to a dependable defense, a factor that could be pivotal in the upcoming weeks.
Jack Butland’s arrival has been nothing short of inspiring, with an impressive 23 clean sheets in 47 matches across all competitions, while conceding only 37 goals in the process.
The centre-back pairing of John Souttar and Connor Goldson has thrived in recent months and the duo have become Clement’s first-choice options at the heart of the defence.
Connor Goldson and John Souttar’s Rangers statistics
Souttar endured a tough first season at Ibrox, missing a large chunk of the season due to an ankle injury, but he has become the first choice now that he is fit and healthy.
In 22 Premiership appearances, the Scot has an 88% pass success rate, kept nine clean sheets, made 3.5 clearances per game and won a staggering 75% of his total duels contested – which is 5.8 per game – showing how impressive he is with regard to one on one battles against opposition players.
| Premiership stats this season for Rangers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Metric | John Souttar | Connor Goldson |
| Accurate passes per game | 59.4 | 61.6 |
| Total duels won per game | 5.8 | 5.8 |
| Tackles per game | 0.7 | 1.4 |
| Possession lost per game | 8.5 | 10.3 |
| Interceptions per game | 1 | 0.3 |
His prowess in aerial duels is remarkable, having won 77% of them this season, indicating to Clement that he’s a valuable asset for the Rangers’ starting lineup.
Partnered with Souttar, Goldson forms an excellent defensive duo, showcasing exceptional chemistry between them. Goldson’s passing ability is also noteworthy, boasting an 87% success rate. Additionally, he makes 1.4 tackles, three clearances, and recovers 5.6 balls per game.
Goldson’s physical prowess is evident in his 67% success rate in total duels this season, further solidifying him and Souttar as a formidable defensive pairing that’s hard to break down.
Going forward, keeping the pair fit will be of major importance to Clement, especially if he aims to add a league title and a Scottish Cup to his League Cup success from earlier this season.
How much Souttar and Goldson are worth
Despite both players performing at close to their best since the turn of the year, this is not reflected by their current market values.
Indeed, Souttar is currently worth just €0.7m (£600k) according to Football Transfers, which places him as the club’s second lowest-valued centre-back.
Goldson, despite being at his peak, is also valued lower than expected. The 31-year-old is currently worth just €2.5m (£2.1m) and it is unlikely a side would make an offer of more than that considering he has just two years left on his contract.
Going by inflation, however, Rangers sold a centre-back more than 15 years ago who was worth more than Souttar and Goldson combined – Carlos Cuellar.
How much Rangers signed Carlos Cuellar for
Following a turbulent 2006/07 season – which was only saved due to the late great Walter Smith steadying the ship – the summer of 2007 was an important one for the club.
There was plenty of transfer activity occurring, with players departing and arriving in equal measure.
In total, 13 new signings arrived at Ibrox, among them Daniel Cousin, Steven Naismith, and DaMarcus Beasley, although it was Cuellar who looked the most interesting signing.
The defender cost just £2m from Spanish side Osasuna, having impressed for the La Liga outfit in a UEFA Cup tie the season prior against the Light Blues.
The Spaniard proved to be an inspired signing and acquitted himself well to Scottish – and indeed continental – football over the course of the season.
He played a total of 65 games for the Gers during his solitary campaign in Glasgow, forming a key component of the side which would remain in contention for a quadruple heading into May.
Unfortunately, they would lose out on both the league title and the UEFA Cup, finishing runners-up to Celtic and Zenit St Petersburg respectively, although they would win the League Cup and Scottish Cup.
Cuellar’s excellent form, especially over the closing months, would soon attract interest from afar as it appeared his stay in Glasgow may be shorter than anticipated.
How much Carlos Cuellar is worth in 2024 money
Aston Villa came in with a bid of £7.8m for Cuellar during the summer of 2008 and, due to Rangers’ declining financial situation, it was accepted by Smith as a means to bolster their bank balance.
Signing a player for £2m before selling him for nearly £8m just a year later is excellent business, and judging by inflation, it is clear the Gers hit the jackpot with the Spaniard
Totally Money have taken the 100 most expensive transfers of all time across each season since 1992 in Europe’s top five leagues. Armed with plenty of historical financial data they have calculated what footballers of yesteryear would be worth in the present day after taking into account the remarkable rate of inflation.
Indeed, in 2024 – with Totally Money having adjusted for inflation over the years – Cuellar would now be worth an eye-watering £24m in today’s market.
Not only is this worth more than both Souttar and Goldson combined, but it could well be worth more than their entire defence, showing just how good Cuellar was during his time at the Ibrox side.
The defender failed to hit the highs he did during his time at Rangers, although he did make 121 appearances for Villa, before having spells at Sunderland and Norwich during his spell in England.
Smith certainly knew how to get the best value for a player and the money raised by his sale went on to help the club in more ways than one.
There is no doubt he was an excellent defender, with his £24m valuation in 2024 certainly evidence of that fact.
GET MORE NEWS HERE