Tochi Chukwuani could look to engineer a departure from Rangers during the upcoming January transfer window unless his playing time under Derek McInnes improves significantly.
The 23-year-old Danish midfielder arrived at Ibrox in January from Austrian side Sturm Graz for a reported £4.3 million fee. He quickly established himself as a central figure under former manager Danny Rohl, making 18 appearances during the second half of last season and looking every bit like a long-term fixture in the heart of the team.
However, the current campaign has told a remarkably different story. Following the managerial transition to McInnes, Chukwuani has fallen sharply down the midfield pecking order. While he has registered eight appearances across all competitions this term, he has yet to be named in a single starting lineup in the Scottish Premiership.
According to reports from Football Insider, Chukwuani is not currently agitating for an immediate exit. Nevertheless, he is prepared to assess his options when the winter market opens if his opportunities remain limited. At this stage of his development, regular senior football is paramount, and remaining on the periphery indefinitely is unlikely to satisfy the Danish prospect.
Several key factors have contributed to Chukwuani’s sudden exile. Over the summer, Rangers bolstered their central options by bringing in Vanja Dragojevic and Cammy Devlin. More crucially, McInnes has shown distinct loyalty to a preferred midfield partnership consisting of Nico Raskin and former Sunderland man Dan Neil.
Rangers’ lack of European group-stage fixtures this season has further compounded the issue. Without the physical demands of midweek continental travel, McInnes has faced little pressure to rotate his squad. In fact, the manager has made just a solitary alteration to his starting eleven across the club’s last four matches, shutting the door on fringe figures hoping for a pathway into the side.
Despite the recent success of the Neil and Raskin partnership during a seven-match winning run, cracks did emerge during their latest outing against Dundee at Dens Park. The duo were directly culpable for Dundee’s equaliser when Raskin played a risky pass to Neil in a dangerous central area. Neil subsequently delivered an under-hit back-pass that Callum Jones intercepted to level the contest.
Addressing that costly breakdown after the match, McInnes did not shy away from the deflation it caused across the squad. He likened the error to a balloon popping, acknowledging that his team struggled to regain their rhythm and momentum after conceding so cheaply. The manager also pointed out that Rangers generated more than enough opportunities to put the game out of reach, noting that an away team should never require three goals just to secure three points.
Whether that defensive slip at Dens Park opens the door for Chukwuani remains to be seen. If McInnes continues to overlook the young midfielder over the hectic autumn schedule, the January transfer window may well offer Chukwuani an exit route away from Glasgow.