Steven Gerrard had a habit of being able to sign experienced players who made key contributions for Rangers.
Allan McGregor, Scott Arfield, Steven Davis and Jermain Defoe were all first-class professionals in their time at Ibrox whilst Leon Balogun was so good that two other managers gave him deals.
Phillippe Clement saw five experienced players leave the club with Kenny McLean the only player with miles on the clock who has been linked, but what would the Scotland international bring to Rangers?
Could Kenny McLean be Rangers long-needed playmaker?
Every Rangers fan will remember McLean from his time at Aberdeen, some will reemember him as a fresh-faced youngster at St Mirren, a few might even recall him from his short time as a talented teen at Auchenhowie.
Similar to nine-in-a-row legend Ian Ferguson, McLean has always been box-to-box, all action figure in the engine room, but times have changed.
Look at Davis when he returned to Rangers.
He was no longer a player who could be asked to do a job on the wing, however, he had developed into a textbook, modern day number six – a deep lying playmaker.
And so has McLean.
Despite how Steve Clarke uses him for Scotland, McLean has spent most of the season as Norwich City’s captain playing at the base of midfield or even at centre-half.
Using Data MB’s database, McLean compares favourably to two of the continent’s best in terms of how he played the role.
Man City’s Rodri and Arsenal’s Declan Rice have been two of the best defensive midfielders around over the last few seasons and McLean, in terms of style of play, is a close match.
With a data driven approach to recruitment, it’s easy to see why his status as a home-grown player and Rangers fan only adds to the attaction rather than forms the foundations for considering the midfielder.
Persuading McLean to sign for Rangers wouldn’t be an issue
McLean would crawl to Glasgow, if Nils Koppen can negotiate an appropriate fee and the 32-year old’s previous comments about a potential move to Rangers explain exactly how he feels:
“I think long term, it will be back home in Glasgow [on his future],” said McLean.
“There’s always talk. But there’s never been anything in front of me saying ‘there you go’.
“Would I love it one day? Of course [return to Rangers]. If you’re brought up and that’s who you support then of course I would. My family would be over the moon.”
His age might but some fans off, however, he is the same age as Ryan Jack who has just been released.
But for a lengthy injury history, he would still be at the club.
The fee is the only issue, the best time to sign him would have been when he was leaving Aberdeen or when his contract was expiring at Norwich, however, it is what it is and, if Rangers want him, money will have to be paid.
How much Norwich will demand for their player of the year remains to be seen but the statistics prove that McLean would be more than just a sentimental signing.
