In Focus
TOFF DECISIONS
Inside Rangers sporting director target Kevin Thelwell’s incredible £81MILLION Everton transfer profit
Thelwell joined Everton at a time of significant financial peril
THE arrival of a new sporting director looks set to be the first big appointment in what's set to be a period of major change at Rangers.
Experienced English Premier League chief Kevin Thelwell looks to be the man who'll be taking over the big Ibrox vacancy.
4
4
4
Rangers are, of course, on the horizon of being taken over by US health tycoon Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises.
A deal for the American investors to acquire a controlling stake in the Light Blues is set to be completed before too long.
The major change at Ibrox comes in a season that has seen the arrival of a new chairman and chief executive, as well as a change in manager.
CEO Patrick Stewart, appointed late last year, has been leading the search for a new sporting director, a position Rangers haven't filled since Ross Wilson's exit in April 2023.
READ MORE RANGERS STORIES
It looks like he might've now found his man.
SunSport told you last night how Everton director of football Kevin Thelwell is the man Rangers are closing in on.
He's shot to the top of the club's wish list.
The 51-year old has been in position at the Toffees since February 2022 but announced his departure last month.
Most read in Football
A former coach, experienced Thelwell is also a former director of football at Wolves.
He also had senior roles with Derby and Preston and was head of sport at New York Red Bulls in between his jobs at Wolves and Everton.
Steven Whittaker One-on-One Hibs & Rangers hero on life with Scott Brown, collapsed Man City move & THAT goal in Lisbon
The sporting director position will be a key one at Rangers, with fewer crucial periods than the upcoming summer.
A permanent successor to manager Philippe Clement, sacked in February, is to be appointed with Barry Ferguson in interim charge until the end of the campaign.
And there's plenty to sort out in terms of the squad, too.
Big names such as Ianis Hagi, Tom Lawrence and Leon Balogun are all out of contract while key star Vaclav Cerny has, of course, only been on loan.
It's a squad that will need refreshing and the sporting director's remit will be to oversee that process.
Thelwell's time at Everton could certainly point towards why Rangers feel he's the right man to oversee that process.
He took the role at Everton in February 2022 and has overseen six transfer windows at the club - and to great effect.
Thelwell came into the Toffees at an uncertain time.
They were beginning to feel the heat over the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules (PSR) amid a battle with relegation.
The club were deducted eight points last season in relation to PSR breaches.
It's mean that Everton have had to be rather careful with regards to their transfer business.
Thelwell's transfer windows saw Everton bring in £226million in transfer fees.
This saw the club turn over a huge £81m profit in relation to transfer fees with spending limited to just £145m across the six windows.
Almost half of the clubs in the Premier League spent more than £100m in the last summer transfer window ALONE.
Who is Kevin Thelwell?
Was on books of Crewe and Shrewsbury as a youth footballer but failed to make a senior appearance
Played at semi-professional level with clubs including Northwich Victoria and Congleton Town
Moved into coaching career and achieved UEFA Advanced Licence aged just 25
Thelwell also completed a degree in Sport Science
Began coaching career with FA of Wales and worked his way up to become Director of Coach Education
Appointed Director of Youth at Preston in 2005 under Billy Davies
Followed Davies to Derby where he became Academy Manager, the youngest person to hold the role in England aged 32
Also joined first team as a coach as Derby were promoted to the Premier League
Joined Wolves as Academy Manager in 2008
Became Sporting Director at Molineux in 2016 and was appointed to the board three years later
Oversaw huge upturn in Wolves' fortunes and recruited top stars such as Diogo Jota and Ruben Neves to the club
Moved to USA in 2020 to become New York Red Bulls Head of Football
Returned to England in 2022 and joined Everton as Director of Football
Everton's biggest outlay under Thelwell's stewardship was in the 2022/23 campaign when £68million was spent on players.
The biggest of these acquisitions saw midfielder Amadou Onana snapped up for £30m from French club Lille.
The Toffees also recruited Dwight McNeil, Neal Maupay and James Garner that season, as well as the shrewd free transfer signing of defender James Tarkowski.
But it was also a season where Everton recouped significant income on the transfer front.
Academy product Anthony Gordon joined Newcastle in a bumper £45m deal in January 2023, while Richarlison had moved to Tottenham for a huge £60m in the summer.
A 'player trading model' has been something often discussed with regards to Rangers and this was very much in play at Everton.
While Onana was signed for a hefty fee, the club sold him on for a significant profit just two years later.
The Belgium international joined Aston Villa for £50m last summer, £20m more than Everton had signed him for.
In the 2023/24 campaign, Thelwell brought in significantly more than double the £32m Everton spent on players.
In fact, the club recouped almost all of that money be selling flop striker Moise Kean to Juventus in a deal worth around £31m.
4
Thelwell and Everton also sold on a number of fringe players for significant sums.
Strikers Tom Cannon and Ellis Simms, neither of whom had been significant first team players, were sold for £7.5m and £8m respectively.
Alex Iwobi also left for Fulham in a £22m deal.
This season, Thelwell's last as it's turned out, saw Everton spend £40m with Iliman Ndiaye (£15m), Jake O'Brien (£16m) and Tim Iroegbunam (£9m) the three acquisitions.
As well as bringing in £50m for Onana, Everton also sold on Lewis Dobbin and Ben Godfrey for £10m fees.
As well as stabilising things in financial terms, Thelwell leaves Everton in a much better position on the pitch too.
Not only will they move to their new Everton Stadium home next season, but they'll do so know as a Premier League club.
David Moyes' return as manager in January has seen the Toffees pick up some steam and steer themselves well clear of the relegation zone.
They're now up in 13th spot having spent much of the first half of the season in the mire.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
Thelwell's recruitment during his time at Wolves also saw some huge stars join the club.
Diogo Jota and Ruben Neves were among the big names signed at Molineux when they were still in the English Championship.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page