Former Rangers trialist Andrew Gutman has signed for Celtic, only to be send back to the States on loan to the Nashville Soccer Club.
The American left back, who won the coveted Hermann Trophy this year, didn’t make the gracde at Ibrox for whatever reason. His compatriot Matt Polster did, much to the delight of Rangers fans.
But at 22, does the fact he can’t break into the Celtic first team prove he couldn’t cut it at Ibrox?
Gutman had a spell on trial at Auchenhowie earlier in the month. He didn’t do enough to earn a contract, despite reports from American Soccer Now suggesting Rangers had offered him one.
Left back is a position where Rangers have toiled at times this season. With Borna Barisic having injury problems, Jon Flanagan deputised there for much of the season.
But Andy Halliday has made the left back berth his own in recent weeks. At least as a backup.
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Gutman was perhaps seen as the ideal candidate to fill in for Barisic in that position. But he is clearly not ready to take the leap into European football.
Rangers want a player who can come in and do a job straight away. That is not something Andrew Gutman appears capable of doing, just yet.
As a result, it’ll be current USA international Matt Polster who keeps up the American tradition at Ibrox.
And it’ll be a while before we see Gutman in the Scottish Premiership.
