Calvin Bassey was the perfect signing for Rangers and the poster boy for any player trading model.
Signed for a development fee costing little more than a few hundred thousand pounds, the former Leicester City youth player arrived at Ibrox raw and untested at senior level.
Steven Gerrard and Michael Beale had seen enough though and were proven right when Calvin Bassey departed Rangers in a deal that could rise to £23m, but could Johnly Yfeko follow in his footsteps?
For those that don’t follow the B team or the academy, Yfeko is a 20-year old defender capable of playing at left-back or centre-half.
A natural left footer, this isn’t the only similarity with the in-demand Ajax stopper.
Calvin Bassey was signed from Leicester, as was Johnly Yfeko in January 2022 and extended his contract in April of the same year until 2024 such was the impression that he made.
Neither player had made a senior appearance before heading north.
But there is no escaping the physical similarities in that both players are incredible athletes, coincidently with long hair too.
Calvin Bassey has Rangers replacement lined up at Auchenhowie
There is though, one fundamental difference between the pair.
If Calvin Bassey was a powerful ball carrier, Yfeko is a passer, as seen on his Rangers appearance against Newcastle United.
On three occasions, he played press splitting passes into our attacking players’ feet rather than taking the safe option off a short pass to someone closer or a long ball into space.
Alongside Leon Balogun, he handled the outstanding Alexander Isak reasonably well and was unlucky not to block the cross that led to their winning goal, he certainly wasn’t skinned by the Sweden international.
It was a positive performance from the 6ft 3inch tall unit and one that could see him make a more significant breakthrough in Leon King’s absence.
With Michael Beale looking for a new centre-half and King’s injury not as bad as first feared, the Gers boss could do a lot worse than saving a few pound and using the academy for what it is designed to do.
