A lot of Rangers transfer work this summer appears to be building for the future, highly thought of youngsters from Scotland and England arriving to join either the Under-18s or B team squads for the coming season, it might not be the glamour signings that many fans are expecting but, for the club, they are every bit as important.
When Rory Wilson left to join Aston Villa for a fee that could rise to £1million it was a blow given how talented he is, but it works both ways as we have seen this week and now, we added further quality to our ranks with the news that versatile Motherwell youngster Bailey Rice has been signed.
Earlier this week it was reported by Football Insider that both Celtic and a host of clubs in the Premier League were also after the Scotland Under-17 international, branded a “sensation” and it is something of a coup to persuade him to head to Ibrox.
Rice – at 15-years old – is already playing above his age group at international level and will soon be able to sign his first professional contract, Rangers proving that the progress made in recent years at Auchenhowie and the teenagers who broke into the senior squad last year as an indication of what can be achieved at the club.
In a post-Brexit transfer market, we will see more and more Premier League clubs looking to sign players of this calibre knowing that in just a few years they would be classed as home grown if they make they grade, regardless of where they were born, however, on this occasion, the good guys have won.