Philippe Clement knew that Rangers had to take a new approach in the summer by bringing younger players to the club.
The player trading model has been reset and the average of the squad has come down, however, there was still a lot of experience signed too.
In the early stages of the window, Kenny McLean emerged as almost a certainty to be unveiled at Ibrox and join Rangers, a move he has dreamt of all his life.
Kenny McLean reveals talks after Rangers interest
Speculation eventually died down and the Norwich City skipper has spoken to The Daily Record about the potential homecoming move.
McLean spent his formative years at Auchenhowie before leaving as a teenager and has been linked with a return on numerous occasions, this summer seeing more reports than before.
With the departures of Ryan Jack and John Lundstram, there was space for a wise old head in the engine room to mentor the likes of Connor Barron, Mohamed Diomande and Nicolas Raskin.
Despite being 32, McLean made a lot of sense having been one of the stand-out players in the Championship last season and his club’s player of the year.
Speaking ahead of Scotland’s Nations League double-header, McLean, hoping to add to his 41 caps, explained just how close he came to joining Rangers:
“Not too much that needed spoken about, to be honest. The manager was in the door a couple of weeks and I had a conversation with him.
“He’d made it quite clear publicly that he wanted young players. And I didn’t quite fit that bracket. But when I spoke to him he knew he needed some experience about the place and I’ve been there a long time.
“He told me I was still a big part of the plan. So, for me that was me secure and getting my head down at Norwich and not really focusing on elsewhere. It was resolved pretty quickly.”
Chances of McLean making dream move disappear
Kenny McLean looked for a long time like he was going to be a Rangers player before everything went quiet.
He might not have fit the profile of the up and coming, younger players, but the manager was clear about any experienced players that left having to be replaced by a similar type.
From what side the rumours grew isn’t quite clear, however, it is a position that Philippe Clement didn’t manage to address before the window shut.
In January, it would be a huge surprise if the first signing isn’t an experienced number six who is capable of organising the midfield and out of possession shape.
The chances of it being McLean though, appear to be almost nil.
