If Rangers are gradually going to up the quota of home grown players in the first-team squad, Ross Wilson might have to play the long game to avoid having to pay over the odds.
The biggest issue is that a lot of the players who would genuinely be an upgrade on what we already have would be out of our price range, although, if we were to play the national team ten times, I’d fancy us to come out on top more often than not.
Unfortunately, UEFA’s rules are there and at the moment we are only damaging our own chances by having a squad that has over 75% coming from foreign shores so, by gradually replacing some of the current members with Scots, we would be able to have a bigger squad and avoid situations like the one that saw Calvin Bassey making his second senior appearance as a centre-half against Sparta Prague.
Here are a few names that make sense, both in terms of quality and budget.
John Fleck
Well known to Rangers fans, the Sheffield United midfielder has proven himself in the Premier League and Championship, he’s also a regular in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad, at 30-years old he wouldn’t have any sell on value, however, he would be a like for like replacement for Steven Davis and could easily play at the top level for another four or five years.
Liam Lindsay
A player who has often been bizarrely over looked for the likes of Andrew Considine, Declan Gallagher and Stuart Findlay by Clarke, Lindsay has a wealth of experience in the English Championship with Barnsley, Stoke City and Preston, he’s physical and good in possession and would offer a Scottish alternative as our fourth choice centre-half.
Oliver McBurnie
A controversial one maybe, that he has failed to live up to his £20million price tag is a stick frequently used to be a him with but he is still a good player, one capable of linking play, holding the ball up and would fit in well with a team that has players with our crossing ability – I wouldn’t have him ahead of Kemar Roofe and Alfredo Morelos, but if the price was right, he’d certainly be an option and Steven Gerrard has spoken to him before about a potential move to Ibrox.
It’s not an easy task identifying Scottish players who can provide quality without costing a fortune, nirvana being that the likes of Stephen Kelly, Kai Kennedy and Leon King follow in Nathan Patterson’s footsteps by becoming regulars in the first-team, it would also save our sporting director a lot of time, effort and money.