Earlier this season Cameron Archer was linked with a loan move to Rangers, now, the young striker is a potential £20m target for Premier League hopefuls Middlesbrough.
For Rangers fans who aren’t keen on Michael Beale dipping his toes into the Championship transfer market waters, it serves as a reminder of the sort of fees clubs in England’s second tier are now demanding.
Not only that but, Bristol City’s reported £2m swoop for Ross McCrorie at Aberdeen is a great example of how deep their pockets are.
There will be an exodus of sorts from Ibrox and players like John Lundstram, Ben Davies and Glen Kamara should still bring in decent fees.
Just because Rangers fans don’t rate them, it doesn’t mean that someone else won’t.
Our standards are, after all, considerably higher than most.
What this does tell us though is that, if we can identify the talent at an early enough stage, as we did with Calvin Bassey, there is a premium that will be paid.
The signing of Todd Cantwell has already shown that being out of favour in the Championship doesn’t necessarily mean that a player isn’t any good.
For around £1.5m, Rangers have a player that the midfield and attack should be built around.
What £20m-rated Cameron Archer’s form – 10 goals in 19 games – has also shown is that there are youngsters at Premier League clubs who Rangers should continue to look at on loan deals.
Michael Carrick the Boro boss is keen to keep the 21-year old striker who he said “loves scoring goals” – what good striker doesn’t?
We might get lucky and get the next Harry Kane for a season or, on a loan to buy, we might bag ourselves a bargain.
Archer’s alleged valuation and no doubt that of Morgan Whittaker, who Rangers are said to be eyeing another bid after missing out for £2m in January, should also ring alarm bells in the recruitment department.
Only on pre-contract agreements or free transfers like the ones we hope to bring Kieran Dowell and Jack Butland in on can we get bargains from down south.
If a rebuild the size of the one that Michael Beale has hinted at is to take place, the net will have to be cast a lot wider.
The other option is that one of our backer’s bank balances takes an almighty hit.
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