While this is very much a team in transition, a midfield of Connor Barron and Mohamed Diomande could form the spine of this Rangers side for years to come.
Both players joined as part of that substantial summer overhaul.
The former follows in the footsteps of ex-Aberdeen captain Ryan Jack, with the latter sealing a permanent £4.5 million deal after an impressive loan spell from FC Nordsjaelland in the second half of last term.
An almost ever-present and one of the first names on Philippe Clement’s team-sheet already, Connor Barron has been lauded by Rangers predecessor Jack after dispelling any concerns that he would struggle to make the step up from Pittodrie to Ibrox.
And while fans are yet to really see the best of Barron’s midfield partner this term – Rangers hero Barry Ferguson tipped Mohamed Diomande to ascend a new level but his form has been patchy since then – a pair of technically-gifted yet tenacious 22-year-old’s should lay the foundations for a new-look team to be constructed out of the rubble of the previous regime.
Lennon Miller would start over Connor Barron and Mohamed Diomande at Rangers
There is, however, one player in the Scottish Premiership capable of easing both Barron and Diomande out of Clement’s XI.
At least, that is the view of Andy Halliday. The former Gers stalwart who has been left open-mouthed and awe-struck by the remarkable maturity displayed by 18-year-old Lennon Miller at Motherwell.
“Oh aye, every week for me, personally,” Halliday says when asked if Miller would start at Rangers. “It doesn’t matter who it is, he’s playing.”
With over 30 Premiership appearances under his belt already, Miller continues to confound those who wondered if his promotion to Motherwell’s first-team would be a classic case of ‘too much too soon’.
Recruitment chief Nils Koppen, meanwhile, is keen to make Rangers home to the best young Scottish talent. It should come as no surprise, then, that Miller has been watched by the Glasgow giants in recent months.
Halliday suggests that his old employers would likely have to part with a fee in the region of £4 million if they are to convince Motherwell to cash in.
And the veteran is confident that Miller would be a massive success at his old stomping ground too, despite the lack of opportunities afforded to another teenage midfielder who swapped Fir Park for Ibrox.
Bailey Rice joined the Gers back in 2022 after turning down a new contract with The Steelmen.
Barry Ferguson has already urged Rangers to sign Motherwell wonderkid
“This is a grief I have had with Scottish clubs – particularly Celtic and Rangers – for a long time,” Halliday adds. “Bailey Rice and Lennon Miller played together in the same Motherwell team and Bailey Rice was apparently ahead of Lennon Miller.
“Look at the two of them now. Bailey Rice has probably played three games for Rangers with meaningless minutes.
“Lennon, for me, is by far and away the best young player in Scotland. I don’t think there’s anybody remotely close.
“Motherwell have probably been one of the best teams in Scotland for a while at giving youth a chance.”
Interestingly, a bonafide Ibrox icon urged Rangers to target two of the nation’s rising stars a few months ago. Rangers followed former skipper Ferguson’s advice with Connor Barron.
Time will tell if they plan to make Miller their latest project acquisition.
“Lennon Miller is the young man who has jumped out at me every time I have seen him play,” Ferguson told the Daily Record. “The Motherwell kid has unbelievable talent. I was at the game where he came off the bench at Ibrox for his league debut.
“He was 16-years-old. It was brilliant to watch. From that moment, I knew there was a player there.”
