Rangers fans have noticed the club’s startling reluctance to spend money in the Scottish transfer market as of late.
Even the English lower leagues, where Rangers had recruited extensively on their climb back up the divisions, is no longer the pool of Ibrox transfer options it once was.
North of the border, Rangers have relied exclusively on pre-contract moves for the likes of Ryan Jack, Scott Wright, John Souttar, or even Liam Kelly, in this market.
Now, following the transfer of one ‘Rangers target’ to English League One Mansfield Town it sums up precisely why.
Rangers-linked Baccus moves to EFL
Australian midfielder Keanu Baccus has signed for Mansfield Town following their promotion to English League One ahead of next season.
Whilst a switch from the A-League to the English third flight, via a stint at St Mirren, is an impressive feat, we don’t have to tell you that there’s a big difference between Rangers and Mansfield.
It’s not clear just how interested Rangers were in the 25-year-old midfielder but the links and transfer is relevant given the routine reports surrounding Premiership sides.
Rangers have missed out on several high profile Scottish-based players in recent seasons, not least Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson.
But for every Josh Doig or Aaron Hickey there is a Keanu Baccus or Ryan Porteous and there is a clear reason why Rangers are not looking at the Premiership for new signings.
It’s no coincidence that as Rangers have moved to a establish a more functional and profitable player trading model, they have moved away from Scotland.
Whether it’s fair or not, playing outside of the Old Firm is probably viewed as League One level and we’re not exactly banking big bucks from the sorts of players interesting the English third tier.
Can Rangers trust Scotland for player trading?
Playing in Scotland is very rarely a passport to one of European football’s top leagues.
Aberdeen have had some solid success stories in Scott McKenna and Ryan Fraser, whilst the boys moving to Italy have flown the saltire proudly, but these are anomalies and not the rule.
As Rangers look to buy young and develop players into assets, if a footballer has spent the bulk of his career in Scotland then it is highly unlikely that he will fetch a pretty penny in a transfer auction.
The club have been repeatedly clear that they need to more aggressive in the transfer market when it comes to purchasing and selling players.
Scotland is not an environment conducive to achieving this.
Scottish clubs have also started demanding higher transfer fees from divisional rivals, forcing both Rangers and Celtic to look elsewhere for bargain talent with higher resale potential.
It has pushed the Old Firm towards end-of-contract deals in Scotland because, even if players go on to have huge careers down south, there is no guarantee of an equal resale value had they instead moved to Glasgow.
Lewis Ferguson and John McGinn are prime examples with both players now being touted for money spinning moves.
Can you say with any authority that this would’ve been the case had they moved to the Old Firm?
Throw in the fact that all the best young Scottish talent – Billy Gilmour, Ben Doak, Rory Wilson – are snapped up at youth level and suddenly Rangers aren’t guaranteed value for money north of the border.
In fact in many respects it is the opposite.
What is means is that when it comes to spending their transfer budget, Rangers would rather take a gamble on potential resale value than a footballer who knows the game.
It’s a sad reality that there are few, if any, kicking a ball up north who can guarantee Rangers a return on their investment, let alone a profit.
