Loan signings can be difficult to judge, as can youth player, any player can take time to settle but, at Rangers, it can be even harder trying to win a permanent move or a long-term contract.
The modern phenomenon of the loan-to-buy transfer has worked well for more than one Gers boss with Ianis Hagi and Malik Tillman both proving to be a success on the pitch and off it.
But, who were the loan signings and players that Rangers were too quick to get rid of and write off as not being good enough to ply their trade at Ibrox?
Loan signings and Rangers judgements that were made too soon
It’s my list and my rules so I am including an academy player who the club wrote off and sent packing despite having the genes to suggest that he could become a player – more of him later.
First up though, a player who looked like an absolute gem when he first arrived at Ibrox.
Lassana Coulibaly
Tall, powerful, fast, comfortable on the ball, could dribble past opponents and break up play.
What wasn’t there to like about the Mali international when he first arrived in Glasgow from Angers in the summer of 2018 and appeared to be one of the first loans signings to make an impact at Rangers.
He’s pretty much exactly the type of midfielder that Philippe Clement should be looking for now.
So, what happened?
A long-term injury caused by a typical SPFL tackle that went unpunished saw Coulibally return a shadow of his former self and any hopes of a permanent deal disappeared.
Since though, as well as playing in Belgium, he has established himself in Serie A and there was even talk of champions Napoli being interested.
Sometimes patience is a virtue.
Umar Sadiq
You almost knew this one was coming.
He scored goals before he came to Rangers and has scored goals everywhere he has been since leaving, including some spectacular efforts for Real Sociedad since returning from injury.
Remembered for one thing, and one thing only, that dive.
Now, with a reported £25m move under his belt and Alfredo Morelos in limbo, maybe Steven Gerrard was wrong to write off the rapid striker, even if the evidence was that he didn’t much fancy Scotland.
Lewis Ferguson
We had him, we let him go.
The Scotland international is now captaining Bologna and winning awards in Serie A.
At a time when we really need a midfielder who can be a genuine box-to-box threat as well as being capable of doing the dirty work out of possession it remains a sore one to take.
Even sorer than not signing him once we realised the mistake of releasing him.
For me, and with the benefit of hindsight, one of the worst decisions in terms of players that Rangers has ever made – it’s not like he had any relatives that did well for us or anything that could have given us an indication of his potential.
