Rangers have lurched from one plan to the next in terms of player recruitment since they last won the Scottish Premiership title.
One facet that has almost completely been ignored is the development of players from the academy into the first team with Nathan Patterson proving to be the exception rather than the rule.
Producing players who bring in big transfer fees is one thing, however, producing players who can contribute to Philippe Clement’s first team squad is the primary objective for Rangers.
Nils Koppen drops subtle warning for Rangers duo
Nils Koppen gave a lengthy interview this week in which he – in detail – explained how the club was going to rebuild with a thinly veiled dig at a couple of Auchenhowie graduates.
When asked about developing their own talent to make an impact at Ibrox, the Gers recruitment chief said, via The Rangers Review:
“Cody Gakpo at PSV is a good example. He was on a relatively low wage but knew, ‘If I can make the next step, I’ll get the financial benefit’.
“It’s about changing that mindset, you don’t push players to leave, you push them to work hard and go for the next step by winning.
“If you give players comfort and high numbers, then they don’t have to play for that. That can create laziness.”
Have Rangers duo been spoilt?
Take heed Alex Lowry and Leon King.
King is on a reported £8,000 per week according to Salary Sport and Lowry – as one of the highest rated youth products – will be on something similar.
The two Rangers academy products have played in the Champions League, however, they haven’t kicked on from their teenage years and have a combined zero minutes in the first team this season.
There are two arguments to this story.
One that both players have been let down by the club.
The other that, as per Koppen’s comments, the players have grown too comfortable at Rangers.
Unlike Lowry, King has never had the chance to go out on loan but the days of them being linked to the likes of Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea seem like a long time ago.
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