As Rangers announced a new contract for Ben Williamson, the young midfielder simultaneously went out on loan to a Scottish Premiership rival.
Williamson, 19, has been handed a new deal until 2023 with a fine spell at Arbroath in the Championship convincing top tier Livingston to pounce.
https://twitter.com/benwilliamsonnn/status/1414618008035659780
It’s the first major loan deal of the summer and we’re expecting a few more to follow.
If our best young players can get opportunities in the Scottish top-flight it speaks volumes about their ability and potential.
But there’s also another bonus which comes from sending our best young talent out around the country’s best clubs – as Celtic found out last season.
A series of loan moves to the Scottish top tier saw some of the club’s fringe players make an important contribution on the road to 55.
Aberdeen took Ross McCrorie – who helped take four points off Celtic – whilst Livingston took his brother Robbie who played in a 2-2 draw with the Parkhead club at Almondvale last season.
Jamie Murphy scored against them for Hibs, whilst Stephen Kelly contributed to a League Cup exit and a demoralising league defeat which cost Neil Lennon his job.
Sending fringe players on loan around the Scottish top tier proved a masterstroke as time and again loan Rangers popped up to break Celtic hearts.
All this whilst weakening their loan teams when they came to Ibrox – loan players are ineligible to play against their parent club.
With a host of fringe and talented youth players at Ibrox – such as Glenn Middleton, Stephen Kelly and Robby McCrorie – this transfer tactic could well be employed this season as the club hope to secure 56.
Whilst there are likely to be loan exits at Ibrox this season, one young player has caught the eye of fans in pre-season and has supporters wanting Gerrard to keep him around next campaign.
