Derek McInnes Must Make Vanja Dragojevic Decision After Another Rangers Snub

Rangers manager Derek McInnes needs to reassess Vanja Dragojevic’s situation at Ibrox, with the midfielder struggling to secure regular first-team opportunities since arriving in Glasgow.

The Serbian youngster joined Rangers from Partizan Belgrade in a deal worth around £4 million during the summer transfer window. Expectations were high following his arrival, particularly given that he had already captained Partizan despite being just 20 years old and had earned international recognition for Serbia.

However, Dragojevic has found it difficult to establish himself in McInnes’ plans, with his involvement in the first team remaining limited.

The midfielder has made seven appearances for Rangers, accumulating just 279 minutes of football. He was also overlooked as a potential substitute during Saturday’s emphatic 4-0 victory over St Johnstone.

With the January transfer window approaching, Rangers must decide how best to handle the youngster’s development. Allowing him to gain regular football elsewhere could be the most sensible option for all parties.

Why Rangers should consider a January loan for Dragojevic

Dragojevic would benefit from a temporary move when the transfer window reopens, giving him the opportunity to play consistently and continue his development.

The midfielder has not featured for Rangers since making a brief four-minute appearance in the 3-0 Scottish Cup victory over Celtic on 13 September.

His involvement in the Scottish Premiership has been even more limited, with just one appearance and nine matches spent among the unused substitutes.

Those figures suggest that breaking into McInnes’ preferred starting XI will be difficult in the immediate future. Rather than allowing another few months to pass without meaningful playing time, Rangers could look to arrange a loan move that gives Dragojevic the chance to gain valuable experience.

At 20, the Serbian still has considerable time to develop, but regular competitive football will be important if he is to fulfil his potential at Ibrox.

Why has Dragojevic struggled to make an impact at Ibrox?

Dragojevic has also found it difficult to convince when opportunities have come his way, with his performance against Jablonec in the second leg of Rangers’ European play-off tie proving a particular challenge.

The midfielder played 60 minutes during the defeat at Stadion Strelnice as Rangers exited the UEFA Europa Conference League.

His passing accuracy stood at just 57 per cent, while he recorded four clearances and lost the only ground duel he contested. It was a difficult outing in which he struggled to provide the physical presence and control Rangers needed in midfield.

That performance may have made it harder for him to establish himself, although his limited opportunities since then have also restricted his ability to demonstrate improvement.

Dragojevic faces considerable competition for places, with Nicolas Raskin, Cammy Devlin, Dan Neil and Tochi Chukwuani all ahead of him in the midfield pecking order.

With Rangers attempting to remain in contention for the Scottish Premiership title, McInnes is likely to favour players he trusts to deliver consistently in important matches.

That leaves Dragojevic facing an uphill battle to earn regular minutes, particularly while the team continues to fight near the top of the table.

Rangers could benefit from sending Dragojevic elsewhere

A loan move to another Scottish Premiership club could provide Dragojevic with the ideal opportunity to adapt to the demands of Scottish football while gaining experience away from the pressure of playing for Rangers.

Regular starts would allow him to improve his decision-making, become more comfortable with the physical side of the game and demonstrate whether he can eventually compete for a prominent role at Ibrox.

Rangers would also be able to monitor his progress before deciding how he fits into their longer-term plans.

There is little reason to rush into a permanent sale, particularly given the midfielder’s age and contract, which runs until 2030.

Instead, a temporary departure in January could offer a practical solution to his current lack of opportunities.

McInnes must now decide whether Dragojevic can realistically force his way into the Rangers team during the second half of the campaign. If regular football remains unlikely, a loan move could be the best route for the youngster to continue his development and return to Ibrox better equipped to compete for a place.