As Rangers unveiled former Sheffield United midfielder John Lundstram, there are numerous factors which make this a particularly solid piece of business for the Ibrox club.
After his contract expired at Sheffield United, Rangers have just signed an established Premier League midfielder on a free who at 27 is just coming into his prime.
A three-year deal suggests that the Gers are getting the player in his best years with that Liverpool connection between Lundstram and Gerrard also very attractive to the club.
An athletic, box-to-box midfielder who is not shy of a challenge or a goal, this should be considered a sizeable coup by Gers fans, especially considering the player had interest from elsewhere, presumably down south.
This follows a move for Fashion Sakala – for whom Rangers beat off interest from West Ham, Newcastle and Lille [MORE] – on a pre-contract agreement from KV Oostende.
Yet another bargain-basement move that could bank the Gers millions in years to come, Rangers may well prove a springboard step for the 24-year-old Zambian international of whom much is expected.
It’s not just these two names either – Scott Wright, Jack Simpson and Nmandi Ofoborh are all technically pre-contract moves even if the first two joined in January.
In fact, the entire Rangers team is a tribute to successful transfer and succession planning with the entire side assembled on relative peanuts.
Joe Aribo, Steven Davis, Glen Kamara, Calvin Bassey and Jermain Defoe are more names who’ve joined for next to nothing and represent huge value for the club.
Credit must go to the likes of Sporting Director Ross Wilson, manager Steven Gerrard and the scouting set-up at Ibrox which is run by Andy Scoulding.
So far this has been a particularly successful window and the club know there is still money in the bank to pounce should someone become available at the right price.
But across the city, Celtic’s recruitment model appears the polar opposite of Rangers’.
With no Sporting Director in place in a transitional moment at Parkhead, the club finds itself in disarray ahead of a season of rebuilding.
So far Celtic have made two pre-contract signings from Sheffield Wednesday; an apt comparison against Rangers’ move for Sheffield United’s Lundstram.
Rangers are getting an established player in John who has played at the highest level; in midfielder Liam Shaw, 19, and in defender Osaze Urhoghide, 21, Celtic are getting project players.
The next test for the recruitment infrastructure at Ibrox is getting value for money for the club’s top assets – something which Celtic have proven capable of over the years – with player trading now an essential part of Rangers’ business model.
But in a campaign where recruitment is undoubtedly paramount at Celtic, it’s Rangers’ transfer infrastructure that is already setting them apart from those at Parkhead.
Rangers have essentially upgraded Greg Stewart and Bongani Zungu with Fashion Sakala and John Lundstram, strengthening the club’s position in the title race.
In a season that could be worth £30m+ to the victor through automatic Champions League qualification, this is a promising sight for expectant Rangers fans.
Rangers fans are certainly excited about the prospect of John Lundstram joining up with the squad and praised the move by the club with one £20m bluenose expressing his joy.
