Rangers don’t quite have the blank chequebook that they had in Walter Smith’s first tenure as manager or when Dick Advocaat seemed intent in making us a European force so, free transfers will be essential in the coming windows.
What had helped is the work done by Jean-Marc Bosman and the Belgian’s landmark court case that sees players and clubs all over the world able to benefit.
Since the ruling came into effect in 1995, Rangers have signed several top quality free transfers, including one in the current squad, but who make the top three?
Top three Rangers free transfers since Bosman ruling
Jermain Defoe might have been into the twilight of his career, as was Steven Davis when he returned to the club he once skippered, but both deserve notable mentions for their contributions.
I bet current manager Philippe Clement would love a midfielder of the Northern Ireland legend’s ability and a goalscorer like Defoe in his squad now, especially if he could bring them to Rangers as free transfers.
Allan McGregor also gets a notable mention but, as a former academy graduate, he doesn’t really count, despite his incredible form when he returned.
These three miss out but this is the trio that have been the best value for money – in my opinion.
Jean Alain Boumsong
The ultimate free transfer.
Signed in the summer of 2004, sold in January 2005 with a profit of £8m which, considering was nearly 20 years ago, is an incredible bit of business.
To make matters even better, Boumsong was never the same player as he had been before he signed or for the six months when he was in Glasgow.
Jack Butland
Yes, I’m going early with this one, but the 9-times capped England international has made a mockery of the lack of Premier League clubs that didn’t trust him to be their number one.
In almost every game he has made a world class save and tops the league for clean sheets and save percentage.
Enjoy him while he is here.
Rod Wallace
Of all the signings that Dick Advocaat made, this was probably the most underwhelming and the one that Rangers fans didn’t have high expectations for.
As it was, Wallace became one of the first names on the team sheet and made the sort of impact that few strikers have made since, scoring in Old Firm derbies, a derby Scottish Cup final and in Europe.
Philippe Clement could do with finding a Rod Wallace or two over the next two windows.
Best of the rest
Joe Aribo contributed solid numbers after moving on a development fee from Charlton and left in a £10m deal but, despite the goal in Seville, didn’t quite do enough to make the top three – I’m also not sure he really counts.
Perhaps the unluckiest not to make it though was David Weir.
Signed as a stop-gap, he ended his career as club captain for a three times title winning side, multiple cup winner and a run to the UEFA Cup final thrown in for good measure.
He also kept clean sheets against peak Man Utd and Barcelona.
The Richard Gough of the 2000’s.
It is the Bosman market that is most competitive as clubs look to save money, but it is one that Rangers need to get right, free transfers are a great way to save money but they don’t always work out.
More players like these and less like forgotten man Kieran Dowell is what we need.
