The pundit said on The Football Show for PLZ Soccer on 29 January that Philippe Clement is trying to get in developing players now instead of the finished article, after the capture of Mohamed Diomande, 22, on loan with an obligation to buy.
That is in addition to the expected arrival of a pair of 20-year-old South Americans, Jefte and Oscar Cortes, in what host Peter Martin believes will be a “really hectic” end of the January transfer window at Ibrox.
Martin said (4m 40s): “Clearly I think it’s going to be really hectic for Rangers to try and supplement that squad to make the battle for the title, because that’s exactly what it’s all about.”
McManus replied: “Yeah, as the manager said they’re in three competitions, they’re going to be playing a lot of games, Thursday-Sunday, and need a big squad of players.
“I think he’s trying to get the guys on the fringes out that he doesn’t see as being part of the future at Rangers. He’s trying to get players in, two 20-year-olds they’ve already signed, or a 21-year-old (22).
“So I think you can see there’s a change in the signing policy at Rangers. They’re trying to sign younger players to maybe sell on, whereas maybe in the past they went for older players, the finished article.”
Long-term planning
It is going to be a necessity if the Rangers player trading model is to take off for the club to buy low and sell high, or in the case of Diomande buy relatively high and sell even higher.
As long as the recruitment department has found the right targets that is fine, but there is inherent risk involved in going for talented but unproven youngsters.
Clement needs to strike a balance because there is a league title to be fought for right now, so if the likes of Diomande, Jefte and Cortes need time to develop it could see the opportunity lost.
A proven commodity in front of goal on top of the up-and-coming additions elsewhere might be the perfect balance of youth and experience to reinforce this squad to chase a treble.
Lawrence Shankland is the most heavily-discussed option but looks like isn’t on the cards this month, but if Rangers hit with two or three young players they can sell on for millions in profit within a few year it should allow them to afford the occasional big-ticket veteran.
Youth has proven to be the order of the day so far, including with Fabio Silva’s loan move, but whether they are young or old another number nine to back up Cyriel Dessers would help before the deadline.
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