Rangers have been linked with reinforcements in the January transfer window, not just to strengthen the team but because there is a shortage of home-grown players too – hence the reason players like Scott McKenna have been linked.
The former Aberdeen defender has been ostracised at Nottingham Forest as his contract ticks down and it looks increasingly likely that he will leave this month.
Philippe Clement, as Rangers manager, will want to bring his own players into the squad, but a recent development means that Scott McKenna should now be a signing for the long-term.
Rangers need to think long-term for Scott McKenna deal
It’s a bit of a paradox.
Clement needs to sign players who can improve the starting XI but he also has to sign ones who can fill the squad and be trusted to do a job when they are called upon.
Good players don’t grow on trees and, for all that McKenna has his weaknesses in terms of passing and carrying the ball out of defence, in most games the 27-year old wouldn’t need to do this because of how we set up with Connor Goldson and our central midfielders building most of the play.
He is almost the opposite to Ben Davies.
Add them together and you probably have yourself a well-rounded centre-half.
There are games domestically though when opposition teams play for set-pieces and long throws so, having someone who is 6ft 3inches tall at the heart of the defence to combat this, isn’t a bad idea.
Which is probably why Rangers have been linked with the £6m defender.
His experience in both the Premier League and for Scotland has also made him a better player than he was when he was at Aberdeen.
What Rangers have to consider is that the home-grown issue isn’t going to solve itself and more of the rotation or back-up options have to be filled by players like Scott McKenna.
Senior and experienced individuals who help not hinder the squad when it comes to European competition, developing your own takes time.
Swap him for the role that Ben Davies does and would we really be any worse off?
If anything, we could be better off depending on the fee that we could get for our former Liverpool stopper.
McKenna isn’t as elegant as Davies on the ball or at covering space but what he is, is a solid, reliable and no-nonsense defender.
Only Leon Balogun can really claim to have that quality but he will be 36 next season.
With Celtic no longer reported to be interested, this transfer is a tap in for Philippe Clement.
Have I managed to persuade you that it makes sense yet?
