Rangers defensive midfielder James Sands continues to impress for the side and after helping the club to the Champions League v PSV Eindhoven the £5m option-to-buy looks like a snip.
The United States international is also eyeing a spot at this winter’s World Cup and amid a spate of defensive injuries that left centre-back slot is his for the time being.
As players like Ben Davies, John Souttar and Filip Helander return to the fold, there’s a growing feeling that we’ll see the versatile footballer move into midfield.
Despite not being a traditional centre-half, Sands has overcome some early wobbles to deputise very effectively alongside Connor Goldson in a defensive berth.
Against PSV Eindhoven the defender had an expert timing of the challenge and that ability to read the game is evident every single time the NYCFC loanee plays.
After some initial criticism – largely concerned with sloppy passes coming out from the back – James Sands is beginning to settle and the 22-year-old is maturing into a reliable and professional figure for the side.
James Sands earning plaudits after Rangers PSV showing
It’ll be interesting to see how his presence at Rangers develops over the course of the season with those aforementioned names still to return to the side.
But if James Sands can continue to put in those sorts of PSV-esque performances then it will be nigh on impossible to leave him out of the Rangers side.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst is clearly a big fan of the player having thrown him into the deep end at Pittodrie following his 18-month loan move being confirmed in January.
Rangers are said to have beaten Bundesliga clubs to the signing of the youngster, who impressed as NYCFC lifted their first ever MLS Cup in 2021.
Now having settled in Glasgow the deal is looking like a smart one from Rangers who – according to journalists in the USA – have a $6m (£5m) option-to-buy for the player.
Only last season this price was nervously being debated by Rangers fans with plenty believing that it was perhaps a little on the steep side.
After James Sands helped Rangers to the £40m land of milk and honey that is the Champions League, it’s a reported fee that right now looks increasingly like a snip.
Speaking of the Champions League, one Rangers star has been currying favour with his teammates amid links to a potential group stage rival.