Rangers have already signed four players in the window, with up to four more concrete targets in the pipeline.
There’s no doubt the club will be doing more behind the scenes, but following the signings of Jordan Jones, Jake Hastie, Steven Davis and Greg Stewart, the next four names on the shortlist appear to be Sheyi Ojo [Daily Record], Ryan Kent [The Scottish Daily Mail (10/6, back page)], George Edmundson [Daily Record] and Joe Aribo [Daily Mail].
And they’ve all got one thing in common – they’re all British. Even tenuous £3m link James Lawrence is Welsh [Daily Record].
It’s clear that Rangers are looking at low-risk, low-cost British talent to come into the side this season. Why? Well, it could be for numerous reasons.
Firstly, British players are more in tune with the demands and expectations of the club. They understand what Rangers is, what it means to the fans and the expectations associated with Ibrox.
Low-cost, low-risk, high-potential
Secondly, these all look like good players. It could be as simple as their availability and cost. If you can get a solid British signing on a Bosman, it makes more sense to take it than an expensive international risk.
Which brings me nicely to my next point. Steven Gerrard has had his fingers burnt in foreign markets already and is now a little more sceptical of them.
Two of his three Balkans signings reportedly cheesed the Gers gaffer off so much earlier in the campaign he reportedly wanted them out the door [the Herald].
Eros Grezda and Borna Barisic combined cost the better part of £4m. Let’s not get into Carlos Pena and Eddie Herrera.
There’s also the chance that Steven Gerrard just prefers to work with homegrown players.
Whatever the reasons, the transfer strategy is clear. Low-cost, high-potential British talent with improved resale value if the club makes any move permanent.
