Rangers need all the help that they can get in the closing days of the transfer window as Philippe Clement battles against the odds.
Struggling to move players out of his squad to free up space and money on the wage bill, the manager has cut a frustrated figure at recent press conferences.
If Rangers are to close the gap on Celtic, they will need to produce something before the window shuts, however, an Auchenhowie graduate could soon do his old side a favour.
- READ MORE: Ibrox images latest gives Rangers fans hope of imminent return with timely delivery on its way
Billy Gilmour could do Rangers a favour with Lazio move
Billy Gilmour is the subject of a bid from Napoli as he looks to join fellow Scotland international and Rangers youth player Lewis Ferguson in Serie A.
If only they stayed long enough to play together in the current engine room.
Should Gilmour leave for Napoli, Brighton are expected to press on with their offer for Matt O’Riley.
Celtic losing their best player might be a small crumb of comfort but he would be a difficult player to replace.
Midfielders capable of 30 goal contributions a season don’t grow on trees.
What is frustrating about O’Riley and his midfield partner Reo Hatate, is that both of them arrived in Glasgow for the same sort of money that was paid for Todd Cantwell and Jose Cifuentes.
Smart recruitment doesn’t rely on a big budget.
Rangers near miss for generational Gilmour
At one point, when Gilmour was struggling on loan at Norwich City, it looked like a return to Rangers could be on the cards.
He might not have left in the first place had one former manager stuck to his word:
“I was in one of the squads for a cup game at home.
“Graeme Murty’s basically pulled me before the game and says ‘Look, not on the bench, just in the squad.’
“I felt like I was going to be on the bench and maybe even come on that game. It works in its weird ways, so it does, football.
“Of course, I would’ve loved to have played for Rangers. But I ended up moving on and maybe it’s a wee part of my journey that made the decision a bit easier.”
With every contract extension or big money move that Gilmour makes, the chances of seeing him strutting his stuff at Ibrox diminish just that little bit more.
He is the sort of player who would be worth breaking the budget for but with a price tag in the region of £10m according to Italian journalist Nicola Schira, that ship has long sailed.
Hopefully, his next move can do the next best thing and, at least, weaken Rangers most bitter rivals.
