Rangers had a torrid time on their return to the Champions League big time and here we look at four transfers which could’ve made the difference at this level.
The Ibrox side were humbled on their return to Europe’s top table as a mixture of inexperience and a devastating run of injuries proved an awful concoction for the thirsty Rangers support.
But had one, two, three or even all four of the players we’re about to mention have been signed amid strong links to Rangers, then perhaps we’d be talking differently.
Rangers’ transfer policy failed the club in the January window of last season – with Amad Diallo, Matuesz Zukowski and Aaron Ramsey failing to have an appropriate impact – and the club surrendering the title to Celtic.
Whilst the Europa League Final run was an amazing feat, the season is tinged with disappointment after the club failed to clear the final penalty hurdle in Seville.
There’s a feeling that we were woefully prepared for the Champions League – and this rang true with the single worst ever group stage performance – and the club certainly came up short on the transfers front.
Joey Veerman
Going back to last summer, Rangers fans will remember those extensive links to Dutch midfielder Joey Veerman, with the club’s board failing to stump up for the then Heerenveen star.
Fast forward 18 months and the player is a key part of the PSV Eindhoven side who top the Eredivisie table and looks every inch the £5m player the Dutch outfit paid for.
Steven Gerrard left not long after the links collapsed and perhaps Rangers would qualified for the Champions League last season, and retained the title, had the club forked out for the player.
Danilho Doekhi
Then there is Danilho Doekhi, the Netherlands U21 centre-back who was already captain of Vitesse Arnhem and who was extensively linked to Ibrox as his contract ticked down in Holland.
Rangers might’ve come close to signing the centre-back – as alluded to by Ross Wilson at the most recent AGM – but Doekhi chose Union Berlin and has impressed in Germany.
The German surprise package are hunting Bayern Munich down and currently sit a point behind the 10-in-a-row Bundesliga Champions, with the 24-year-old centre-back a key player in the side.
Andreas Skov Olsen
Danish winger Andreas Skov Olsen is another name familiar to Rangers fans, with the Ibrox side linked to the winger even before his switch to Bologna let alone Club Brugge.
Heavily linked during his time with FC Nordsjælland in his homeland, Skov Olsen was linked again last January but appeared to choose Brugge over the suggestion of Ibrox in a deal reportedly worth around £5m.
The attacker has emerged as a key player for the Belgian side and helped fire the club to the Champions League knockout stages, where they face Benfica.
Oscar Gloukh
Finally, the other name – and perhaps the one who was the unlikeliest to sign on at Ibrox – is teenage Israeli talent Oscar Gloukh, who moved to RB Salzburg from Maccabi Tel Aviv in January.
The great hope of Israel’s footballing future, Gloukh was linked to Rangers during the the U19 European Championships but secured a £6m (€7m) move to Austria.
Whilst his was after the Champions League campaign ended, the signing of the youngster would’ve sent ripples on this stage heading into next season but amid interest from Europe’s top clubs, Gloukh is Salzburg bound.
Whilst we can’t for sure say how interested Rangers were in any of these names, the club was extensively linked and these are four young European talents who are showing their ability around the continent.
It shows that Rangers still have some way to go to be a regular Champions League outfit or to attract some of the best young talent but let’s hope that changes in the seasons ahead.
It already appears to have begun with the signing of Nicolas Raskin.
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