Rangers handed Michael Beale the keys to the Ibrox war chest last summer but the ex-Ibrox gaffer didn’t exactly secure many riches with it.
The former Ibrox assistant found himself in charge at Rangers after a brief stint with QPR but lasted less than a year after usurping Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
But not before Michael Beale was given £21m to spend last summer with several of the ex-Chelsea and Liverpool youth coach’s signings not exactly going to plan.
Jack Butland, Dujon Sterling and latterly Cyriel Dessers are success stories whilst the less said about Jose Cifuentes and Sam Lammers the better.
But there’s another player Michael Beale reportedly wanted at Rangers who has just signed a £9m deal to move across the Premier League.
Beale target on the move
Plenty has been made about Rangers’ flailing player trading transfer model over the last few years.
The current state of the Ibrox squad suggests it’s a model which has only ever existed in theory.
Rangers are now setting about trying to revamp the team and push it more in this direction with a number of hot young targets mentioned in this window.
But there was one talented young player Michael Beale reportedly wanted to sign who never quite made the switch to Rangers.
Beale worked with Aston Villa academy product Tim Iroegbunam during his time as Gerrard’s assistant at Villa Park and made the midfielder one of his first signings at QPR.
Joining the Loftus Road club on loan, there were reports last summer that the former Rangers manager was trying to bring the England youth international to Ibrox.
As it transpired Iroegbunam stuck around at Villa Park last season – making nine Premier League appearances – but now the 20-year-old is on the move again.
Everton splash out on Iroegbunam
Everton have announced the signing of Tim Iroegbunam on a permanent switch from Aston Villa.
The likes of BBC Sport have reported that the deal is worth around £9m.
That’s chump change for Premier League clubs these days but certainly not for Rangers who will take note of the transfer and what might’ve been.
There are several players linked to Rangers in recent seasons who’ve gone on to command big money after a move to Ibrox never materialised.
Let’s hope that this is a story which happens less and less with Nils Koppen and co working hard to secure the signings of several top young talents.
Whilst Iroegbunam might’ve only ever joined Rangers on loan, the transfer fee Everton paid for the player is a reminder of the cash on offer south of the border.
For Rangers, it’s just about working out how they can consistently tap into it.
