At a common complaint amongst Rangers fans this summer that there is a worrying lack of senior players being linked with moves to the good guys of Glasgow.
Four new signings have been confirmed, all for minimal fees, but it is the proven wise old heads that are being demanded to beef up the starting XI.
Grey hairs don’t always equate to quality though and there is a reason why age is only a number when you assess the players Philippe Clement has brought to Rangers already.
Rangers have already signed new leaders this summer
Barry Ferguson was Rangers captain having just secured his place as a first-team fixture and is widely regarded as one of the club’s best ever.
Not every young player is capable of carrying a team the way that Ferguson was but it is a reminder that age is no boundary to displaying the qualities needed to drive a team forward and set the right example.
Of the players signed this summer, none of them are over 23.
In Mohamed Diomande, Connor Barron and Clinton Nsiala, Rangers have signed three youngsters who have all shown the qualities needed to be influential.
Diomande captained Nordjylland on multiple occasions, Barron is the current Scotland Under-21 captain and was close to making the senior squad for Germany and, despite never playing senior football, Clinton Nsiala has also worn the armband at AC Milan.
Rangers next generation can lead club to success
It didn’t take long for Diomande, after initially arriving on loan, to start barking orders at teammates.
He wasn’t scared to have a go at both John Lundstram and Leon Balogun for not playing more aggressive passes or for picking runners up.
Characters like Diomande have been missing for a long time.
Barron plays like a Ferguson in terms of how much ground he covers and how he always offers himself to others.
Again, leadership doesn’t have to be shouting at others, taking responsibility is equally as important.
It is a big step up from academy or B team football to playing for the first team but it is one that Nsiala will have to make after leaving Italy for Scotland.
Calvin Bassey has shown that work rate, determination and the right attitude are essential in this situation.
After being trusted to set the right example for those hoping to make the breakthrough at AC Milan, Nsiala has demonstrated a mental approach to the game that should stand him in good stead for Rangers.
Experienced players will arrive at Ibrox this summer as part of a huge squad rebuild, however, Philippe Clement is already collecting the future members of the club’s leadership group.
