You get the feeling that Philippe Clement sees huge potential in new Rangers signing Connor Barron.
The Scotland U21 international joined the club in the summer when his contract expired at a furious Aberdeen.
A tireless, progressive and aggressive young midfielder who has added fresh energy and ingenuity to the Rangers team, Connor Barron is already becoming a fan favourite.
Starting every game of the campaign so far, the new Rangers number eight has come into the team following the exits of Ryan Jack and John Lundstram in the summer.
Speaking after Rangers’ first victory of the season over Motherwell, Philippe Clement has waxed lyrical about Barron and what he will bring to Ibrox over the next few years.
Barron ‘plays for Rangers shirt’
Connor Barron put in another impressive display as Rangers ran out 2-1 winners over Motherwell.
The 21-year-old had a pass accuracy of 98% in the game, whilst he made six passes into the final third.
The midfielder also won 4/5 of his ground duels in the game, making four clearances, three recoveries and three interceptions.
Forming a solid partnership with left-footer Mohamed Diomande in the middle of the Rangers pitch, Philippe Clement was asked about Barron after the match.
Suggesting that the kid is getting better by the week, Clement has claimed that Barron is ‘so determined to play for the Rangers shirt’.
We don’t suspect these comments will go down too well at Pittodrie.
“Connor (Barron) is still a young lad who took some experience last season with Aberdeen,” said Clement. “But not playing all the time.
“Who takes really big steps because he’s so hungry and he’s so determined to play for this shirt and to give his best.
“We see him grow every week. I’m really happy that we could bring him in.
“It’s also want we want to do; not to only get players from all over the world but to get really good Scottish players into Rangers.
“Like I said when he signed, he’s going to be for the future of Rangers a very important player.”
Aberdeen and Rangers in compensation battle
Whilst Connor Barron has started to make a positive impression at Rangers, there is still a lingering stink surrounding the player’s move from Aberdeen.
The Dons support reacted angrily to Barron’s decision to move to Rangers, with the midfielder snubbing options south of the border and in Italy to move to Ibrox.
Because Barron was developed at Pittodrie, Rangers and Aberdeen will have to agree a compensation package over the midfielder’s move.
Rangers and Aberdeen don’t exactly see eye-to-eye at the best of times and now the Dons are threatening to take negotiations to a tribunal.
Whilst the Dons would’ve been due around £525k had Barron moved out of Scotland, this figure is not deemed high enough by the Aberdeen hierarchy.
At the time of writing the situation remains unresolved and we suspect Aberdeen want seven figures for the midfielder.
“It’s our job to make sure we get the best value for any player that leaves and we’ll try and do that again with Connor Barron,” said Aberdeen CEO Alan Burrows at the end of June.
“In all walks of life you would rather avoid situations where you have to go through independent tribunals, but if we do have to, then we will.”
Connor Barron came through the youth ranks at Aberdeen and played 76 times for the club after making his debut in January 2022.
