- Several Rangers loanees face uncertain futures, with few clear pathways back into Danny Rohl’s first-team plans.
- Mixed loan spells: Jose Cifuentes and Oscar Cortes improving, while Clinton Nsiala, Lyall Cameron and Danilo struggle for consistency.
- Findlay Curtis stands out as most likely returnee, while others could leave permanently this summer.
Rangers have several loan players returning to the club this summer still under contract, with uncertain futures lying ahead.
Ahead of a summer of stabilisation under Danny Rohl, where Rangers finally look set to build upon a settled team under one vision after years of mismanaged squad building.
But will there be room for any of those returning to training after the summer break?
Jose Cifuentes
The long-forgotten Ecuadorian midfielder has not played a Premiership match for Rangers since being sent off on the verge of half time against Dundee in December 2023.
He was shipped out that winter to Brazilian side Botafogo.
This was amid rumours of a failure to acclimatise to the Scottish weather.
Neither they, nor Aris Thessaloniki, where Cifuentes spent the following season, chose to sign the midfielder permanently.
Now back in the MLS with Canadian side Toronto.
The the former LAFC dynamo has started all seven of their league matches this season, assisting a goal against Columbus Crew.
His initial return to North America last summer with the Reds did not start well.
Just one win in seven regular season outings meant Toronto missed out on the playoffs, despite Cifuentes netting two assists.
They hold a purchase option of around £1.5m for the player.
Rangers will hope he has shown enough to earn his move and finally shift his invoice off their wage bill.
Toronto general manager Jason Hernandez has however revealed that the club are yet to make their final decision.
“We haven’t really explored any of those conversations in depth yet,” he said.
“Obviously, we know we have Cifuentes for another couple of months before we have to make a decision.
“We’re looking forward to him pushing as hard as he can to deliver great performances and wins up until the point where we need to get around the table and talk about the future.
“I think we’re just beginning to scratch the surface as he grows more comfortable, confident, and begins to gel with the team.
“At that time, I think we have a good standing not only with the club, but with Cifu, to cross that bridge when we get to it.”
Ross McCausland
Ibrox academy graduate Ross McCausland will return to Scotland after a year with Rangers’ former Europa League rivals Aris Limassol.
The Northern-Irish winger has four goals and three assists in 20 Cypriot league matches.
McCausland, a lifelong Rangers fan admits he “still watches every game” from Cyprus but is willing to make the move to the island nation permanent.
“If I keep playing the games and scoring and creating goals, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be the right move for me,” he said.
“I’m playing football with a smile on my face and enjoying myself – that is all that matters.
“Game time is all I want to take from it.
“I want as many minutes as I can and to come up with as many goals and assists.
“I wanted to get that spark back and I am glad I have taken that step.”
Clinton Nsiala
The French defender has never truly gotten started at Ibrox since his arrival from AC Milan in summer 2024.
Discarded by Russell Martin in pre-season, he received limited game time under Rohl.
Joining up with former Ibrox coach Issame Charai at Westerlo in February.
His form, however, has not improved.
He has played just three matches, all at left back.
Being sent off in his third match against USG seems to have ended his chances of a permanent move to Belgium.
Following his three-match suspension, he has failed to make it off the bench in the two subsequent fixtures.
He looks likely for an Ibrox return barring a sensational turnaround in fortunes.
Findlay Curtis
The player on this list most likely to return to the Ibrox first team next season.
Findlay Curtis spent the first half the season in and out of the Rangers side under both Russell Martin and Danny Rohl.
He netted early season goals against Panathinaikos and St Mirren before finding opportunities limited under the German head coach and joined Kilmarnock in the winter window.
“We need to look at the bigger picture, it’s about gametime. It doesn’t matter how we decide; he is on the right track,” Rohl said prior to Curtis’ exit.
Kilmarnock supporter and journalist Laurie Finlayson earlier told Read Rangers that it was a struggle “not to fall in love with a loan player” like Curtis who was regularly “getting supporters excited” during his spell in Ayrshire.
He was described as “effective in getting [Killie] up the pitch” either from the flanks or when deployed as a full back, offering him further adaptability ahead of his return to Ibrox.
Killie boss Neil McCann has also stated that he “trusts” Curtis and has repeatedly praised the young wide man.
His form at Rugby Park also earned him his first Scotland call up, debuting against Japan at Hampden.
He has one goal and one assist for the struggling side but could be a key player in their bottom six clashes as they look to avoid ending up in the playoff spot.
Danilo
Brazilian striker Danilo had an unfortunate spell at Ibrox, with injury curtailing occasional bouts of good form.
Now back in the Netherlands with NEC, he netted his first goal for his new side against Feyenoord in the final minute of injury time.
This came just moments after missing a guild-edged change.
His goal secured NEC their record points haul within the Eredivisie as they look to secure Champions League qualification with a second-place finish.
I am very relieved that I scored my first goal,” he said post match.
“Especially because I had missed a big chance just before that.
“If the goal hadn’t come, I would have been really bothered by it. I would certainly have lain awake at night.”
Should they qualify however, it is unlikely Danilo will be part of the campaign.
With just the single goal in seven games, he has not had the expected impact upon his return the continent.
It would take a remarkable run of form until the end of the season for NEC to take up the option they hold on the Rangers forward.
Oscar Cortes
Oscar Cortes arrived at Rangers with excitement after initially joining on loan from Lens in February 2024, before the move was made permanent for £4.5 million in the summer of 2025.
However, the Colombian winger has struggled to establish himself at Ibrox, with regular starts proving difficult to come by due to successive injury issues.
A loan move to Sporting Gijon in the summer window was intended to provide a platform for consistent minutes.
However, his time in Spain quickly became frustrating.
Questions were raised over the level of trust placed in him by the coaching staff.
Even a managerial change failed to improve his situation.
This ultimately leading Rangers to terminate the deal early.
“My intention was to stay in Europe, but things were not working out,” Cortes admitted, reflecting on a period that stalled his development.
Second loan move of the season
A fresh opportunity emerged with Argentine side Huracan, and Cortes played a proactive role in ensuring the move materialised.
“When I found out that Huracán wanted me, it was a nice thing,” he said.
“I did everything I could to get to Huracán; I spoke with the manager, I made the decision, and it was the best thing I could have done.”
Since making the switch, the 22-year-old has featured regularly and believes the change of environment has had an immediate impact.
“I’m much better than before,” he added.
Cortés has now made 12 appearances for Huracan, but his long-term future remains unclear.
Still under contract at Ibrox until 2029.
Rangers will assess whether his progress away from the club is enough to reintegrate him into the first-team setup.
If not a permanent move is the more likely outcome.
Lyall Cameron
A player on this list whose Rangers future already appears to be slipping out of reach is Lyall Cameron.
He arrived at Ibrox on a pre-contract agreement from Dundee last January.
Initially linking up with Russell Martin’s side in the summer with a strong reputation after an impressive campaign.
He made an encouraging start despite the team’s inconsistent results, even netting in the Champions League away to Viktoria Plzen and featuring in the opening three league matches before injury halted his momentum.
By the time he returned, the landscape had shifted.
Martin had been replaced by Danny Rohl, and Cameron found himself on the fringes almost immediately.
Those concerns were quickly reinforced.
After Cameron was left out of a matchday squad for a trip to Hibernian, Rohl was asked if the midfielder had picked up another injury.
His blunt response of “no,” was followed by confirmation that the player was fully available.
This made the omission even more telling.
Rohl later admitted Cameron had found it “hard” to adapt to his tactical demands.
Cameron himself acknowledged the frustration of his situation, saying: “It’s not easy. You train hard all week then don’t get an opportunity to show what you can do at the end of the week.”
Supporter concerns on Cameron
A switch to Aberdeen offered a chance to reset, although the move was not universally welcomed.
Some Dons’ fans questioned the principle of signing a player on loan from Rangers, viewing it as counterproductive to their ambitions.
ENRG Sport journalist and Aberdeen supporter Thomas Harper explained: “The fans were in uproar about yet again loaning a player from an Old Firm side.
“When this happens, we see them improve – only to then kick on elsewhere.
A good number of Aberdeen fans have nothing against Cameron himself but are not a fan of this move in its principle.”
On the pitch, Cameron has shown flashes of quality despite the team’s struggles.
“We do like Cameron as a player; he is tidy and not afraid to make a tackle,” Harper added.
“There are times where he clearly shows why he had so much interest in him from other clubs in the summer.
“The situation is dire and not one man can change an entire team’s fortunes.
“He won over some doubters on his debut but there are still questions over his consistency.”
Cameron remains focused on playing time rather than long-term clarity, admitting his future is uncertain.
“I’m just looking to play as much as I can, score as many goals as I can and help the team,” he said.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen beyond the summer.
“I just want to help Aberdeen as much as possible.”
Cameron’s long-term prospects at Ibrox now appear increasingly doubtful.
Read Rangers analysis
Ben Davies and Leon King are also absent from Ibrox on loan but are both out-of-contract in June.
The duo will be allowed to depart on free transfers
Other players returning such as youth prospects Paul Nsio will be set for further loans, higher up the pyramid.
Regardless of who stays and who goes, Rangers are finally set for a settled summer of recruitment behind one set vision.
Their January recruitment has more hits than misses and with the new ownership’s backing – this is expected to continue.
This summer will see a clear out of cast offs.
They have been built up from the plethora of managers who have occupied the Ibrox touchline over the past half decade.
This will give way to a slimmer, more streamlined squad, capable of challenging on all fronts.
