Rangers have shown we can sell players for decent money in recent years, and nobody should pretend that side of the business doesn’t matter. But the order of priorities is crucial. You buy good young players to improve the team first, then if they kick on, the transfer profit becomes the bonus. Truth is, the first bit has to fuel the second.
Why the “trading model” starts on the pitch
There’s a bit of a temptation to talk about recruitment like it’s a spreadsheet exercise. Buy at X, sell at Y, job done. But you don’t get to the big numbers unless the player is developed in a proper environment, with a clear role, a settled structure, and standards around them every day.
That’s why the balance matters. You need “pitch-ready” players as well as prospects. Not just for results, but for development. Younger lads learn quicker when they’re not being asked to carry the whole side, and when the experienced boys around them are showing them the right habits in games: when to slow it down, when to take a foul, when to be brave on the ball, and when to keep it simple.
Celtic’s benchmark is uncomfortable, but real
It’s hard to ignore the comparison across the city. The point isn’t to obsess over them, but to be honest about the gap. If Celtic can routinely generate serious profit from player trading, Rangers should be aiming for the same level of efficiency. It’s not about copying everything they do, it’s about recognising that even in the same league, with similar constraints, you can still outperform by being sharper and more consistent.
And that comes back to recruitment planning. Not every signing has to be a development project, and not every signing has to be a finished article either. The best squads usually have a mix: a couple who can play right now, a couple who’ll be ready next year, and one or two punts you can polish.
Bassey is the reminder not to write off young players early
The best example is Bassey. When he first broke into the team, did any of us genuinely have “£20m+” in our heads? Probably not. He improved fast, but he also had experience beside him and a structure around him that let his strengths show.
That’s why it feels harsh judging our current young players purely on what we’ve seen in a difficult spell. Under Martin it wasn’t a great environment, and under Danny Röhl there are signs of improvement. But even then, you can see how much easier it would be for them if we had the right level of experience in the positions around them.
As for Penrice, the way I see it, he’s more of a loan or back-up option unless we move for someone of a higher ceiling. A good player, but not one you’re banking on to become top class.
Related Articles
About Rangers News Views
Rangers News Views offers daily Glasgow Rangers coverage including match reaction, transfer analysis, SPFL context, tactical breakdowns and opinion-led articles written by supporters for supporters.
