If you had told Rangers fans that they’d have three signings through the door and two more on their way even before Scotland took to the field for their second Euro 2024 fixture, even the most optimistic of Ibrox matchgoers may have had a hard time believing you.
But, such has been the pace and the decisiveness of Rangers‘ summer business so far, the team who ended 2023/24 under Philippe Clement is already looking pretty different heading into 2024/25.
The Glasgow giants have bid farewell to Borna Barisic, John Lundstram, Abdallah Sima, Fabio Silva, Kemar Roofe and Ryan Jack. In their place comes Jefte Vital, Clinton Nsiala and Oscar Cortes, the latter back for a second time with a £4 million purchase clause in his contract this time.
Sky Sports, meanwhile, say that Liam Kelly and Connor Barron are very likely to be signings number four and five. Kelly should be the first to arrive. The Scotland international goalkeeper, a free agent after leaving Motherwell, has unfinished business at Ibrox.
He rose through the ranks at Rangers but never made a first-team appearance before moving on to Livingston.
Barron, meanwhile, is expected to follow in the footsteps of Ryan Jack, while helping fill the departing midfielder’s boots in the centre of the park. Much to the frustration of Aberdeen, Barron opted against renewing his own contract.
The Dons gain with be The Gers’ gain, too, 21-year-old Barron possessing the tenacity and technique that made ex-Pittodrie skipper Jack such a key part of Rangers plans for seven seasons.
Rangers close to signing Aberdeen’s Connor Barron
“It is hugely disappointing that Pittodrie youth academy graduate Barron has decided to leave Aberdeen,” sighs club legend Willie Miller, speaking to the Press and Journal.
“But that is, unfortunately, a fact of life in football. Aberdeen put a lot of time, effort and finance into their development programme.
“The disappointment is that Aberdeen have not had Barron in the first team for a long period. Barron has every right to do what he wants with his career – although I would have liked to have seen him stay longer at Aberdeen.”
It’s a familiar gripe. Aberdeen also lost Lewis Ferguson – now the captain of Champions League-bound Bologna – when he had barely scratched the surface of his potential. Calvin Ramsey and Scott McKenna were also lured away, alongside the current Rangers winger Scott Wright.
“Barron has made his mind up he wants to play elsewhere,” adds Miller, a European Cup Winners’ Cup champion under Sir Alex Ferguson back in 1983.
Two out of contract stars on their way to Ibrox
While technically out of contract, Rangers will still have to agree a fee with Aberdeen. Failing that, the case will go to a tribunal.
“The majority of that money should then go back into the development programme to help the bid to produce the next Connor Barron,” Miller argues.
“The 21-year-old’s exit is disappointing, but life goes on at Pittodrie without him. Aberdeen have to look to produce the next batch of talent to follow players like Barron, Calvin Ramsay and Scott McKenna.”
Barron, who can count the former Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson among his many admirers, will be tasked with forming part of a young, new-look midfield at Ibrox alongside Nicolas Raskin and January recruit Mohamed Diomande.
