This feels less like a signing from the Philippe Clement – Nils Koppen era and more, perhaps, one that would have been typical of a Rangers side operating under Mark Warburton or Pedro Caixinha.
Since the arrivals of Clement and Koppen, the Scottish Premiership runners-up have approached the market in a manner reminiscent of Ange Postecoglou’s time at Celtic.
Looking far and wide, Rangers have signed players from Denmark, France, Italy and Brazil, while expressing an interest in some based in Romania, Bulgaria, Argentina, South Africa and Uruguay. Whether such an approach proves to be as succcessful as it did for Postecoglou – who’s raiding of the East Asian market worked wonders – remains to be seen.
But after a number of high-profile failures during the Warburton and Caixinha regimes – when Rangers’ flawed approach involved bringing in experienced, high-earning players which saw very little upside – the arrivals of young, hungry talent from abroad is a plan many at Ibrox will be on board with.
Rangers brought in Joey Barton, Niko Kranjcar, Philippe Senderos, Gareth McAuley, Bruno Alves, Graham Dorrans, Clint Hill and more shortly after returning to the top-flight in 2016.
Rangers unlikely to make Scott McKenna move
Scott McKenna might not be in the autumn of his career just yet – still only 27 – but a move to Glasgow feels unlikely for the free-agent at a time when Rangers are targeting up-and-comers rather than those who may be looking nervously down the other side of a steep hill.
McKenna will be without a club this summer. Released after falling down the pecking order at Nottingham Forest and spending a difficult spell on loan at Copenhagen in Denmark.
Peter Grant, the former Scotland international, believes that McKenna would have been an ideal acquisition for Rangers when he left Aberdeen back in 2020. Four years on, and with his time south of the border not exactly going to plan, that particular ship may have sailed.
“I think, before he went down south – I know he would have got more money or whatever (in England) – I would have signed him for Celtic or Rangers,” Hoops legend and former Scotland midfielder Grant tells Go Radio.
“Absolutely. They were looking for centre-halves at the time. And, if I was at Celtic and Rangers and it was affordable, I would have definitely taken him.
“He’s got a bit of character about him.”
Rangers bring Clinton Nsiala to Ibrox
It may be telling that, while Rangers are looking at centre-halves this summer, links with the unnattached McKenna have been few and far between.
Philippe Clement’s side held talks with Jose Cordoba in Glasgow before he opted to seal a £3 million move to Norwich City. Thomas Galdames – an aggressive, front-footed Chilean plying his trade in Argentina – is another on the radar while Rangers announced the signing of AC Milan youngster Clinton Nsiala this week.
“We are excited to add a talented young player in Clinton to the squad,” director of recruitment Koppen tells the Rangers website.
“He joins as an exciting talent who we believe can develop and take his next steps under our manager, Philippe Clement, and his staff.
“We look forward to welcoming Clinton to Glasgow.”
