Rangers, under the direction of Nils Koppen and inspired by such successes of Hamza Igamane, appear to be moving with the times in the transfer market.
While their early days back in the Premiership were characterised by a host of largely ill-fated, short-term additions – see Gareth McAuley, Joey Barton, Niko Kranjcar, Bruno Alves – Rangers have largely put their pursuit of big-name veterans to bed.
The appointment of former PSV Eindhoven scout Koppen has coincided with a shift towards a more long-term model.
Koppen uses Igamane and Jefte as examples of the sort of value that can be found when delving a little deeper and searching a little wider. Two diamond-in-the-rough additions who set Rangers back around £2 million combined and certainly won’t break the bank in terms of their weekly wage.
So, while the idea of signing Jonny Evans was floated at Rangers earlier in the January window, it always felt unlikely that Koppen, now the club’s technical director, would pursue a 37-year-old centre-back who earns a reported £65,000-a-week at Manchester United.
Rangers told Jonny Evans could have been ‘brilliant’ signing
Rafael Fernandes is a far more typical Nils Koppen signing. The Dutchman describes Fernandes, during his official unveiling on Saturday morning, as ‘another exciting young talent to add to our squad’.
A 22-year-old arriving on an initial loan deal after struggling for chances in France with Lille, Rafael Fernandes brings only pace, power and an excellent passing range to Ibrox. Not only that, but also considerable re-sale potential should he secure a permanent contract later down the line.
Though Paul Slane, the former Scotland prospect turned pundit, cannot help but feel Koppen maybe should have broken from tradition if old man Evans had shown a desire to take on a leadership role at Ibrox.
“It’s certainly a position they have needed [additions] in, massively,” Slane says. “I’d like to have seen Jonny Evans come in. He’s somebody I would have loved to have seen. I think Rangers need a guy like that honestly.
“I think Rangers maybe lack that. Personality, leaders… I think he’s a guy who would be brilliant for them, I really do.
“He’s giving you so much more. See Rangers, when you look at it, who is the real personalities of that team? Who is the leaders of that team? Evans would be massive for them.”
Rafael Fernandes joins as Rangers face defensive questions
It’s certainly true that this is a Rangers side relatively low on serial trophy winners.
Rangers were urged to pursue Norwich City veteran Grant Hanley by former Premiership duo Cammy Bell and Marvin Bartley last week. They argued that Hanley – like Evans – would have added a vocal presence in both the dressing room and the penalty area.
Though Rafael Fernandes, at 6ft 3ins, should certainly help when it comes to Rangers’ vulnerabilities at set-piece situations.
Si Ferry, the now East Kilbride assistant coach, argues that Evans may have been an ill-fitting addition anyway given that Philippe Clement’s team tend to push up the pitch and defend high.
“Rangers play high now, [with] high pressure,” Ferry counters. “Money will come into it. [Evans] will be on a fortune at Man United, wouldn’t he?
Ross McCormack, the former Rangers academy graduate, argues that a lack of pace did not put the Glasgow giants off signing Robin Propper over the summer.
Though the prospect of Fernandes developing alongside fellow youngster Clinton Nsiala is a mouth-watering one at a club under pressure to embrace a sign-low, sell-high policy of self-sustainability.
