Rangers legend Ally McCoist has a clear message for South African defender Olwethu Makhanya: take your time and settle properly at Ibrox before thinking about another move.

The 22-year-old has made a strong impression since joining Rangers from Philadelphia Union in a deal worth around £3 million ahead of the current season. He has already featured 16 times across all competitions, scored his first goal for the club, and was named Scottish Premiership Player of the Month for September. His form has naturally attracted interest from other clubs, but McCoist believes it is still early days.

Speaking to talkSPORT, the former Rangers striker and manager said: “I don’t think Makhanya should be in any rush to go anywhere. He’s had a very good start.”

McCoist pointed to the example of Calvin Bassey, another young defender who performed well at Rangers before moving on to Ajax and later Fulham. While he expects bigger clubs to take notice of Makhanya’s progress, he advised the South African to stay longer, continue performing well, and build a stronger reputation.

“There’s no doubt that with the way he’s started, there will be clubs looking at him, just like Calvin Bassey left for Ajax,” McCoist explained. “But I would be advising him to stay for a while, get the job done, keep getting rave reports, and see where it takes him.”

Makhanya has shown he can play at centre-back and also cover on the left side of defence, making him a useful option for manager Derek McInnes. Rangers currently sit near the top of the Scottish Premiership and remain in contention for domestic trophies. For a young player still adapting to European football, regular game time at a club of Rangers’ size offers valuable experience.

McCoist’s advice matches the views of other former Rangers players who have watched Makhanya closely. They believe the defender should aim to play a significant number of games at Ibrox before considering a step up, rather than moving too soon and risking limited opportunities elsewhere.

At 22, Makhanya has time on his side. If he continues to perform consistently, his value and options are likely to grow. For now, the message from one of Rangers’ biggest names is straightforward: focus on establishing himself at Ibrox first.

Source: https://x.com/iDiskiTimes/status/2117976265621676296?a=kfMyQBHeysp-9WO83mc&s=19