Carlos Mendes Gomes, a talented winger Rangers reportedly tried to sign last year, is now struggling after joining EFL Championship club Luton Town.
Rangers were first linked with Mendes Gomes in April 2021, when he was starring for Morecambe in EFL League Two.
The Scottish Sun claimed that the Gers had made contact with the Shrimps regarding the Spanish speedster.
A number of other clubs were also interested, though, and Rangers ultimately missed out, with the 23-year-old joining Luton Town on a permanent deal in June.
Luton manager Nathan Jones referred to him as a player with ‘wonderful ability’, but things aren’t working out too well for him so far with the Hatters.
After scoring 16 goals and notching three assists across all competitions for Morecambe last season, he’s yet to find the net or register an assist for his new club.
Mendes Gomes missed a penalty in an EFL Cup first-round shootout defeat to Stevenage in August and he’s only made seven appearances in the Championship.
The winger has been an unused substitute for Luton’s last three league matches, after a rare start in a win at Blackpool in early December.
It’s likely that the Gers have continued to monitor the ex-Atletico Madrid youth despite missing out on him.
However, he’s clearly struggled to adjust to the jump in standard, and Ross Wilson may be glad he didn’t push harder to land him in the summer.
Mendes Gomes is still young, though, so it’s possible that Rangers could come back in for him at a later date, if he eventually proves himself in the English second tier.
Meanwhile, a former Rangers star is currently shining for a rival club and wowing fans.