Rangers player trading model dictates that fewer players will stick around for longer and that finding, selling then replacing them – all whilst pocketing a few pound – is the way ahead for the club.
Utilising the pre-contract and free transfer market is, of course, the easiest way to minimise initial outgoings, however, this usually means that decent players are in-demand and on bigger wages – this is fine when they come in and add quality to the starting XI and match day squad as a whole.
Joe Rothwell of Blackburn Rovers – who has been linked with a January move – comes into this equation, he won’t have a shortage of offers but, like John Lundstram, the lure of European football and the chance to win trophies could prove difficult to turn down, with former Blackburn keeper, Paul Robinson, claiming that he is the standard that Steven Gerrard is looking for, as told to Football Insider:
“He is a very, very good Championship player and he has done extremely well at Blackburn.
“Rangers are clever because they know they don’t have the finances of a Premier League club when it comes to transfers.
“But the way that they have brought players in like John Lundstram on free transfers, it’s a very savvy way of doing business.
“Players in the last year of their contract are obviously going to cost a lot less than players who have four years left.
“He’s a top player who would walk straight into that Rangers team as well.”
We will need to see if Robinson is right and just how good Rothwell is compared to Ryan Jack, Glen Kamara and Joe Aribo who he would be competing with for a place.
A lot of our squad is made up with players who have played in the Premier League or Championship in England, there are bargains to be found – just look at our midfield and the likes of Lundstram, Aribo, Scott Arfield and Steven Davis who cost a combined £300,000 to sign.
Rothwell is the latest player to fit this profile, someone with proven ability and physicality at a good level, the manager and his coaching staff have shown before that the can develop midfielders and Blackburn’s number eight could well be the next.