It’s just over 25 years since Rangers made arguably the most controversial transfer signing in football history when Maurice Johnston crossed the Old Firm divide.
The Scotland striker wasn’t technically a Celtic player, however, he had been paraded by Billy McNeill and expected to return to Parkhead.
Aside from the religious conotations, what made it such a big deal, was that Johnston was worshipped by their fans as Ally McCoist was by those of a Light Blue persuasion – he was their poster boy.
When coincidence and opportunity presented itself to Graeme Souness, the then Rangers manager, signing the second-best Scottish striker made an awful lot of sense.
Fast-forward to today, and Rangers have the chance to do something that hasn’t been done for over 100 years and sign Greg Taylor on a Bosman transfer straight from Celtic, and there are three reasons why it makes just as much sense as signing Johnson.
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Three reasons why Rangers should sign Greg Taylor
The Rangers squad is going to need a total overhaul again in the summer and low risk signings will be at a premium.
If a 27-year old international, with over 300 games to his name, a solid injury history and 10 domestic trophies in his personal haul became available for free, there would be little debat.
The issue is an obvious one.
Taylor would be an immediate upgrade
First of all, Taylor is a better player, more consistent and reliable than both Jefte and Ridvan Yilmaz.
His best might not be on the same exciting level in terms of attacking play, however, Sasa Papac wasn’t exactly known for his creativity.
Titles are won on a solid defence and Taylor has been there and got the t-shirt, on mulitple occasions.
Taylor would add to Scottish core and was in Rangers academy
Secondly, Taylor was bred at Auchenhowie in the Rangers academy and only falls months short of being classed as a club trained player for UEFA’s quotas for the Champions and Europa League.
As a locally trained player Taylor would help to increase the size of European squad that could be submitted and, with nearly 40 appearances on the continent, knows fine well what to expect.
Taylor has a quality that Rangers lack
Finally, Taylor has a quality that Rangers have been sadly lacking in recent seasons – heart.
He’s not the quickest, or the most athletic, or the most skillful, however, the current full-back group at Rangers could take a lesson out of his book in terms of commitment.
Rangers need exciting young talent to kick-start the player trading model, but they also need experience, sure things, players who can hit the ground running and set the example.
If Taylor played for any other club Rangers fans would be demanding that Nils Koppen should sign him.
