Petar Ratkov was linked with a move to Rangers shortly after Michael Beale arrived as Rangers manager.
The talented Serbian teenager had impressed for FK TSC last season and improved almost on a weekly basis.
A move was a certainty but a reported £3.85m price tag ruled Rangers out and Petar Ratkov moved to RB Salburg where he has made an immediate impact.
With 14 goals and five assists, the Serbia Under-21 international had the sort of breakthrough season that made it easy to compare him to one of his compatriots.
At 6ft 4inches tall, Petar Ratkov is hard to miss but he would have been more than just a target man for Rangers.
Comparisons with Alexander Mitrovic are easy to make though given his role as a central focus especially when you look at his debut league goal.
Movement beyond his years and the physicality to get in front of the defender.
Petar Ratkov impact will be Rangers dream for strike duo
Michael Beale will be hoping that Cyriel Dessers and Danilo, who were bought for similar fees to Petar Ratkov, can have a similar opening day effect for Rangers.
Erling Haaland saw his stock rise at RB Salzburg despite only spending half a season at the Austrian outfit.
He too was a talented teen, loaded with potential who soon demonstrated what he can do at a higher level.
Petar Ratkov is on a similar trajectory and, at a club who has a reputation for developing players and selling to bigger clubs, he might not be playing in the Bundesliga for long and Rangers unlikely to be his next destination.
He might have been on Rangers radar a few months ago, however, the time for Michael Beale to swoop was before he became too expensive and that, already, looks too late.
