Rangers’ transfer market activity during the Nils Koppen and Philippe Clement eras was unquestionably more focused on foreign acquisitions than on domestic players.
Connor Barron and Liam Kelly may have signed last summer from Aberdeen and Motherwell, respectively, after their contracts expired, but the tigerish midfielder and seasoned goalkeeper were the exception rather than the rule.
Rangers have signed 20 players since the summer of 2023. Only two of those, Barron and Kelly, came from another Scottish Premiership club.
Rangers’ technical director, Koppen, has taken satisfaction in the club’s ability to identify deals in less well-known markets. Koppen mentions Hamza Igamane and Jefte as instances of the value that may be uncovered by casting a wider net. The two brought in less than £3 million altogether.
Nonetheless, the former PSV Eindhoven talent spotter is open to the thought of searching closer to home.
Koppen stated that one of the club’s ‘objectives’ is still ‘to sign the top talents of Scotland’. Barron, who is only 22 years old but brings a wealth of experience to Ibrox following several seasons with the Aberdeen first team, is a prime example.
Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday, meanwhile, believes Koppen and Clement should use the opportunity to sign two more Premier League players, especially since both will be free agents in July.
Rangers encouraged to sign Dundee’s Josh Mulligan and Lyall Cameron.
“It is a sorry state. You are stating this in January, yet the league has already ended. “The league has been done for a while,” Halliday says, with Saturday’s defeat to Hibernian stretching the lead at the top of the table to 13 points.
“[Rangers] just need to construct a team, whether it is depth or quality, line up players for the summer, and try to do as much business as possible.
“Pre contracts! Two players I would sign right now are Lyall Cameron and Josh Mulligan. “Honestly, I’d sign both of them.”
Mulligan and Cameron, both 22 and representing Dundee, are scheduled to face Rangers this week. Clement’s team travels to Dens Park on Thursday night, and the Dundee duo couldn’t be in better form to face the Glasgow giants.
Cameron, one of the league’s most lethal offensive midfielders, scored his eighth goal of the season in a 3-1 victory over St Johnstone at the weekend. In the meantime, Mulligan assisted in a typical bucanneering demonstration down the right side.
With the Rangers looking for potential James Tavernier replacements, the versatile Mulligan is one name to consider.
Rangers are warned they need an indigenous spine to prosper under Philippe Clement.
“Mulligan is an athletic monster; I’m signing him. I’m signing the two of them on pre-contracts,” says Halliday, who has faced the Dundee pair this season with Motherwell.
“Koppen praised homegrown talent. See your Mulligans and Lyall Camerons; I’m not suggesting signing them will win Rangers the league. But look at what [Luke] McCowan is doing for Celtic; get them two guys for genuine squad depth, and they will play and perform well for you.”
Since his summer transfer from Dundee to Celtic, the aforementioned McCowan has made the transition appear quite simple. McCowan may not be a fixture in Brendan Rodgers’ starting lineup, but he now averages a goal or an assist every time he starts a Premier League game.
And Tony Watt, Halliday’s Motherwell teammate, believes Rangers need a sheet of Scottish steel to coat a vulnerable underbelly.
“Cameron is good. Watt continues, “[He impressed me in] both games against us.”
“The Rangers have lost many players, including Ryan Jacks and others. I believe Rangers need some homegrown Scottish boys, even if it’s the English version, to bash heads if things aren’t going well.”
