Who’s on Rangers Radar: Jake Cooper

According to reports from Peter O’Rourke for Football Insider, Rangers are again interested in Millwall centre back, Jake Cooper. The 28-year-old is entering the last year of his current deal. The report suggests Rangers could be looking to swoop in and get him for a cut price fee.

Rangers have had a long standing interest in the giant centre half. Dating back to 2018 when a £3m bid was rejected by Millwall.

Is this one you’d like to see happen this summer?

The Numbers

These were the numbers he put up last season in the English Championship;

• 46 Appearances
• 3G/3A
• 39% Long Ball Accuracy (2.8 per game)
• 15 Clean Sheets
• 1.2 Interceptions Per Game
• 0.8 Tackles Per Game
• 42% Ground Duels Won (1.1 per game)
• 67% Aerial Duels Won (4.9 per game)

It’s fair to say he does his best work in the air. He’s an option unlike anyone Rangers currently have a centre back. Do the numbers impress you?

Playstyle

If Rangers are looking for a Ben Davies replacement, Jake Cooper isn’t exactly like for like. In fact, they’re almost polar opposites.

Cooper is 6’5, strong and powerful in the air while being relatively competent on the ball. He’s a decent short passer but his long passing game needs work. He is left footed so he could add balance to that side.

He’s very aggressive and picks up a lot of bookings. That also means he wouldn’t get bullied by domestic strikers. He’s not going to come out with the ball and start attacks. Despite Rangers being linked for years, he doesn’t really fit what the club have in that area. Perhaps that’s why he’s being targeted though?

Compare him to Davies, who is very comfortable on the ball, a quality long passer and reads the game well. He’s an intelligent defender but can’t match the aggression of the Scottish game.

Cooper’s advantages are physicality on the ground and in the air, plus the fact he’s massive. He gives you less on the ball but more solidity in that area.

Conclusion

I’m not sold on this one. Considering the likes of Davies, Goldson and Souttar are all comfortable on the ball and good passers, Cooper isn’t. He’s not the typical modern day centre back by any means.

That being said, do Rangers need a centre back that’s just aggressive and dominant in the air? That could be why Beale is supposedly looking at him. He’s a completely different option and that may appeal to the manager.

I’d also, ideally, want the club to be looking at younger options which take the future into consideration. Cooper is 28 and only has Championship level experience. Is that the quality that Rangers need right now?

What are your thoughts on Jake Cooper? Is this a deal you think the club should pursue?

ICYMI you can here our line-up prediction for todays game against Livingston here.