Glasgow Rangers have been warned to avoid signing an English free agent by one former Scotland international, as per Football Insider.

The lowdown

The Light Blues' central defensive ranks are currently depleted, with both John Souttar and Filip Helander injured and neither expected to return in the coming weeks.

Gary Cahill has been without a club since he left Bournemouth at the end of the 2021/22 season, and freelance sports journalist Owen O'Brien reported last week that Rangers are interested in signing the 36-year-old.

The latest

However, Frank McAvennie told Football Insider that he could envisage Cahill struggling against an energetic forward like Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic at this late stage of his career.

The ex-Scotland striker also thinks that the defender's wage demands could be a problem for the Gers, saying: “He’s got good experience but I can’t see him coming up against someone like Kyogo [Furuhashi].

I look at the energy in football and it’s a young man’s game now. He would bring experience but I don’t know if Rangers have got any money to spend on more wages. Rangers are a big club, only a few games ago we were raving about them because they got into the Champions League.

They’ll be linked with everyone. Gary Cahill, can he come up here and do it? I don’t think so.

The verdict

One thing that Cahill would bring to Ibrox is pedigree. He was six games short of reaching the 400 mark during his Premier League career, while he has also played in 38 Champions League matches (via Transfermarkt).

During his time at Chelsea, the 36-year-old won Europe's biggest club competition, in addition to two Premier League titles, two Europa Leagues, two FA Cups and one League Cup.

However, after he spent last season in the English Championship, you can understand why there may be concerns about his ability to deliver at the top level nowadays.

Also, with Cahill having taken home £65,000 per week during his time at Crystal Palace between 2019 and 2021, you can see why McAvennie has cited wages as a potential stumbling block to any move by Rangers.