Rangers will continue on a new path this summer in terms of recruitment and in terms of how transfer supremo Nils Koppen goes about his business.
There isn’t just a need for one or two quality additions, there is a need for the Rangers squad to have more players who have proven that they can survive domestic football.
Walter Smith and Alex McLeish were more than happy to raid other teams in Scotland, even Dick Advocaat would cherry pick the best from the rest, despite the budget he had.
Patrick Stewart spoke signing Scottish players and returning a homegrown core to the heart of the team and there are more than just UEFA quota reasons for doing so.
What is painful, is watching local talent leave domestic shores only to thrive abroad with one in particular a player who Rangers let slip through their fingers.
Max Johnston linked with a move to Portugeuse side Braga
One of the Scots who Advocaat signed for Rangers was Allan Johnston, a player who scored a hat-trick for Hearts at Ibrox and looked every inch the type of mercurial talent who could help to unlock defences.
Unfortunately, he struggled to force his way into the starting XI, although there was no shame in this given the embarrassment of riches available to the Little General.
Fast forward 25 years and Max Johnston, Allan’s son, is carving out his own successful career, first with Motherwell, now with Sturm Graz after moving in 2023, and he has impressed enough to potentially earn another step up.
According to Scott Burns of The Daily Record, Braga have been scouting and are interested in a move for new Scotland international Johnston with the journalist claiming that a fee in the millions will be needed to sign him.
Johnston left Motherwell at the end of his contract, and it is already looking like a deal Rangers will regret not making.
Why Rangers should have signed Max Johnston
James Tavernier is 34 this year and is also approaching the last 12 months of his contract.
At the moment, only Dujon Sterling is a certified right-back, despite rarely being seen in his preferred position – there are also doubts about his reliability, despite being one of the most ever-present Rangers players in 2024.
Adam Devine is unlikely to stay beyond the summer and Jack Harkness in the B team still has a lot to prove.
It is a position that needed to be addressed, however, the obvious approach for a player with proven SPFL ability with huge potential and good genes was missed.
Now, as with players like Lewis Ferguson, Johnston is out of Rangers’ price range.
Shopping in a talent pool that isn’t big to start with, missing out on those who could make a difference becomes even more unforgiveable.
Given his recent progress, few would back against Braga being little more than the next step up the ladder for a Johnston who could have been a regular for Rangers.
