Rangers will be facing off against Thierry Small this season after he secured a move back to St Mirren despite links to Ibrox.
The Gers have been linked with a couple of left backs over the course of the summer transfer window.
Links surrounding Ridvan Yilmaz potentially returning to Turkey have quietened down but Borna Barisic has been linked away.
The Scottish Sun suggested in July that Nottingham Forest were keen to sign Barisic but no such move has materialised.
Rangers may well have had left back targets in mind just in case Barisic or Yilmaz ended up leaving and one of them was thought to be Small.
Football Insider reported in May that Rangers were looking to snap up Small from Southampton.
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The former Everton talent spent the second half of last season on loan at St Mirren and seemingly made his way onto Rangers’ radar.
Links to Small have died down a little but Rangers will now have to face him in Scottish Premiership action this season…
Rangers-linked Thierry Small completes St Mirren return
St Mirren have now confirmed that Southampton talent Small has returned to the club for the full season, penning another loan deal.
Small impressed in his 15 games for the Buddies last season and Stephen Robinson has managed to secure his return.
Robinson praised the move, suggesting that Small will be a ‘big asset’ for St Mirren because of his pace and versatility.
“We got glimpses of his potential last season: his pace, his energy and his quality. We’re hoping for more that again.We know him as a person. We know his strengths and weaknesses. He’s a still a young kid and we aim to keep developing him, but certainly I feel he’ll be a big asset for the squad.”
“We’ve only had one in at left-back and left wing-back which has meant moving others around and out of their best positions for cover. Scott Tanser has been excellent for me, but Thierry brings real competition in that area and he can also play in at right wing-back and can play further up the pitch. In a tight squad, Thierry gives me a multitude of options,” he added.
Small was highly rated at Everton and we can only imagine that Southampton have high hopes for him moving forward.
Rangers will be keeping close tabs on Small as he returns to the Scottish Premiership though, potentially seeing Small as a long-term answer at left back.