Do not let those recent acquisitions from Morocco, France and Brazil fool you; Rangers, when it comes to the very best homegrown talent in Scottish football, will always be jostling for position at the front of the queue.
When Connor Barron decided against extending his contract at Aberdeen, Rangers were there.
When Lyall Cameron opted to look for a new challenge after a breakout season with Dundee, Nils Koppen jumped at the chance to conclude a ‘hugely important’ deal for the free-scoring Scotland Under-21 midfielder.
Rangers have copped plenty of criticism in recent years as the likes of Lewis Ferguson, Josh Doig and Aaron Hickey left Scotland for mainland Europe – Italy, specifically, as far as those three are concerned – but former PSV talentspotter Koppen understands the need to balance bargain additions from overseas with a solid spine of domestic dynamos.
Rangers tipped to move for Kilmarnock striker Bobby Wales
“It’s important to look all over the globe where we can compete financially to get the best talents to the club,” Koppen said in the autumn. “[But] we also don’t want to lose the focus on Scotland and the local market.”
So, as one of the hottest young forwards in the Premiership made headlines last weekend with a touch and finish that would not look out of place in a compilation of Dimitar Berbatov’s best efforts or amidst Dennis Bergkamp’s finest moments, has Bobby Wales just played his way onto the radar of the Old Firm?
Si Ferry, the former Dundee and Peterhead midfielder who now works as a co-host on the Open Goal podcast, certainly believes that should be the case.
Ferry watched Wales latch onto a hopeful ball over the top of the St Johnstone defence during Kilmarnock’s 3-1 win at Rugby Park, jink inside his marker, and slot home with an almost effortless finesse.
“Oh, brilliant Bobby Wales,” an awe-struck Ferry says of Killie’s 19-year-old hopeful. “He’s one – you see Celtic and Rangers? – he’s one you’d be looking at.
“6ft 2ins centre-forward, touch, good finish…”
Wales, capped by Scotland at Under-19 level, certainly possesses many of the raw attributes needed for a centre-forward with ambitions of the elite.
The balletic elegance of his sublime solo effort against The Saints was made all the more impressive when contrasted with his rangy frame.
Wales now has five goals and three assists during his first season in the Kilmarnock first-team. Ferry liked what he saw from the teenager on loan at Alloa Athletic last term too – 14 goals and seven assists in all competitions – and he looks ready now to take the next step towards fulfilling that considerable potential.
Derek McInnes hailed Wales’ ‘quality and composure’
“When we’re looking for a bit of calmness, quality and a bit of composure. I thought Bobby Wales gave us that,” Killie boss Derek McInnes said after Wales netted a late equaliser in December’s draw with Dundee.
“Bobby still has things he has to improve at. He’s an honest boy and we have conversations. With his back to goalm he can still be better. But, in terms of finding space and manufacturing chances for himself, he’s got that in him.
“He has the intelligence to come off the left-hand side. We had people snatching at things and thankfully he doesn’t; He makes a clean connection and it’s a brilliant finish.”
A new centre-forward could be required at Ibrox with Cyriel Dessers now 31, Danilo still injury prone, and Hamza Igamane attracting considerable interest. Rangers are again being tipped with Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland.
But, over a decade Shankland’s junior, Bobby Wales is certainly more befitting of that Koppen-led transfer strategy.
