The international break has come at the best time for Russell Martin as tensions are bubbling at Glasgow Rangers due to their lacklustre start to the season. The Gers currently sit in 7th after drawing all four of their opening Scottish Premiership games.
The bigger source of strife for Martin is Rangers’ failure to qualify for the Champions League after being dumped out of the qualification round by Club Brugge 9-1 on aggregate.
The last game before the international break, despite being a 0-0 draw, was the first sign of things potentially improving for Martin. Following the 6-0 second leg defeat to Brugge, managing to be the first Scottish Premiership team to avoid defeat against Celtic looks to be something of an, albeit small, step in the right direction.
Rangers are hoping that the signing of a former Champions League winner may help capitalise on this result and turn around their poor start to the season.
Martin looking to bring in Champions League winner ahead of Europa League campaign
Rangers and the 49ers Enterprises are thought to be eyeing a move to sign ex-Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The former England midfielder is available as a free agent following his contract being terminated by the Turkish side Besiktas, where he spent the last two seasons, and according to TBR Football, Rangers are considering a move to sign the free agent.
As a free agent, Oxlade-Chamberlain can be signed immediately, but Rangers will face some tough competition to sign him as he has attracted attention from Premier League sides Leeds, Everton, Burnley and Brentford, as well as ambitious Championship side Birmingham City.
Rangers may be able to tempt Oxlade-Chamberlain to join them over these other suitors with European football. Rangers will start their Europa League campaign later this month as they face Genk, and another season in Europe may make Rangers a more appealing destination than the other clubs.
There are reports indicating other interested clubs on the continent, but it is as yet unclear whether or not these are Champions League teams, and it had been previously reported that Oxlade-Chamberlain, a Champions League winner at Anfield, was looking for a move back to the UK.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is a "great player" who can turn round Martin's fortunes
Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Arsenal in 2011, and he arrived alongside current Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. The pair played together on 73 occasions, and after their time together at Arsenal, Arteta had a lot of praise for Oxlade-Chamberlain:
“We could all see the potential of Alex and where he could develop. He picked an incredible club to move to, and he wanted a challenge, probably after so many years here. We have to accept that, and I think we all wish him the best because, as well as being a great player, I think he was someone who was really, really liked here among the fans, the staff and the players.”
A player with European experience who has a history of being popular among the fans at the clubs he’s served at may be the perfect signing for Martin. Not only would he be a great addition to the squad, but his character and CV might tide unsettled fans over until he can find a way to get some better results.