I’m not really interested in Rangers signing players based on where they’re from, or what league they happen to be playing in. The only question that matters is simple: are they good enough to make us better?
That’s not a slight on Scottish football either. It’s just reality. The pool of players in our league who genuinely elevate Rangers is small, and when one does appear, you don’t get them on the cheap with a quiet bid and a polite handshake.
The SPFL market is tough for a reason
Fans love the idea of “just take the best from the rest”, but it rarely works like that. If a player in Scotland is clearly top level, there’s usually competition. Agents know it, clubs know it, and the price goes up fast.
That’s why it’s worth asking awkward questions when certain names get floated about every other day online. If someone is genuinely a standout, why is it only Rangers fans talking about them? Why is there no noise elsewhere? Why isn’t their current club fighting tooth and nail to keep them?
Take the Devlin example. If he was as much of a difference-maker as some make out, you’d expect a queue. You’d expect Hearts to be desperate to tie him down, and you’d expect other clubs to be circling as well. When that isn’t happening, it’s fair to wonder if we’re talking ourselves into a player because he’s familiar, not because he’s elite.
Paying extra can be smart, not reckless
On the flip side, if Rangers identify a player like Dahl and bigger leagues are watching him, that changes the conversation. That’s when paying a bit more in a fee or wages can actually be the sensible play.
It’s not about throwing money around. It’s about understanding the modern market. If there’s genuine external demand, you’re not buying a project nobody else rates. You’re buying into a talent profile that others think can go higher.
And for Rangers, that can matter twice. First, you get a stronger player. Second, you’re potentially bringing in someone with a ceiling that helps the team now and can hold value later. That’s how you move forward, especially when margins in Scottish football are tight and every mistake in recruitment gets magnified.
There is a pathway from Scotland to anywhere
We’ve seen it often enough that it shouldn’t even be debated. Players can come to Scotland, perform, and earn moves to bigger leagues. The pathway is there, for Rangers and for clubs around us.
Names like Aribo and Bassey prove Rangers can be a platform. And when you look around the league at other examples mentioned by supporters, it’s clear the scouting angle shouldn’t be “domestic or foreign”. It should be “can he improve us, and does he have the mentality to handle Glasgow?”
Truth is, recruitment isn’t meant to be comfortable. It’s meant to be right.
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