It feels like it is going to be a big summer of change at Glasgow Rangers as they look to bounce back from what has been a disappointing campaign on the pitch.
The Light Blues are heading into the final few matches of the season with little to play for, as the league title has already gone to Celtic and they have an interim head coach, in Barry Ferguson, in the dugout at Ibrox.
A new sporting director, Kevin Thelwell, will be in place in the summer, and a takeover involving Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers group is edging closer.
Rangers could also make changes to their playing squad in the upcoming summer transfer window, moving on players who need to be upgraded on.
One player the Scottish giants should be aiming to replace is wasteful centre-forward Cyriel Dessers, who has missed a staggering 59 ‘big chances’ in the Scottish Premiership and European competitions since the start of last season.
The Gers should try to recruit a striker who can be more effective in front of goal, and they could do that by looking closer to home, as they did with the signing of Kris Boyd.
Why Kris Boyd was a massive success at Rangers
The Scottish centre-forward came up through the youth ranks at Kilmarnock in the early stages of his career and proved himself to be an excellent goalscorer in the top-flight.
Boyd scored 62 Premiership goals across four-and-a-half seasons in the first-team at Killie, having emerged from the academy, and that convinced Rangers to swoop in for him in January 2006.
Because he was a proven goalscorer in the Premiership, it was not too much of a gamble by the Gers, and they were rewarded with consistent goalscoring from the Scottish forward.
Boyd was not a player coming from a foreign league and had all the relevant experience needed to be an instant success at Ibrox, which is backed up by his goal return during his first spell at Ibrox.
09/10
31
23
5
08/09
35
27
5
07/08
28
14
1
06/07
30
20
1
05/06
17
17
0
As you can see in the table above, Boyd consistently scored goals at an impressive rate in his four-and-a-half seasons at Ibrox between January 2006 and the summer of 2010, before his move to Middlesbrough.
The Scottish centre-forward led the Gers to two Premiership titles, in the 2008/09 and 2009/10 campaigns, and his success in Glasgow showed that the club can find top talents from within the Premiership, rather than having to look further afield for their big signings.
With this in mind, Rangers could find their next version of Boyd as they are reportedly looking at a striker who is currently shining in Scotland.
Rangers lining up move for Premiership star
According to the Chronicle Live, Rangers are one of a number of clubs interested in a swoop for Hearts centre-forward James Wilson in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The reports that Premier League side Newcastle United are considering a move for the 18-year-old talent after his breakthrough season in Scottish football this year.
It states that both Rangers and Celtic have ‘checked’ the attacker out, suggesting that they have sent scouts to watch him in action, ahead of the summer.
The Chronicle Live adds that there are other Premier League teams in England who are keen on the youngster, which means that there will be plenty of competition for his services ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
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It states that he has a market value of £1m but it remains to be seen exactly how much Hearts would demand for their star youngster in reality.
Rangers, however, should push the boat out to bring him to Ibrox ahead of the other interested parties because he could follow in Boyd’s footsteps at Ibrox.
Why James Wilson could be Kris Boyd 2.0
The 18-year-old talent does not have as much first-team experience as the player-turned-pundit had when he arrived in Glasgow from Kilmarnock, as this is his first season of regular senior football.
However, Wilson could be the next version of Boyd as another young, hungry, Scottish centre-forward who has already shown his quality in the Premiership.
As you can see in the clip above, vastly experienced goalkeeper Craig Gordon believes that the striker is a “special talent”, having worked with him at club and international level.
His opinion is particularly valuable because he has been part of title-winning teams in Scotland with Celtic and knows what players need to be successful at the top of the Premiership, which suggests that Wilson is on the right track.
Appearances (starts)
20 (15)
Goals
5
Big chances missed
4
Conversion rate
26%
Big chances created
2
Assists
1
As you can see in the table above, the teen star, who only turned 18 in March, has already scored five goals and created two ‘big chances’ in 15 starts in a struggling Hearts side this season.
He has also, notably, only missed four ‘big chances’. Whereas, Dessers has missed 20 ‘big chances’ to go along with his 13 goals in the Premiership, which suggests that the Jam Tarts youngster is more clinical in front of goal.
Now, imagine if Wilson had the ‘big chances’ that Rangers have created for Dessers throughout this season. The Scotland international could improve his output and improve the team’s effectiveness in front of goal with his finishing quality.
Therefore, the Hearts starlet could be Kris Boyd 2.0 for Rangers as another young Scottish striker with the quality and potential to be an excellent goalscorer for the club for many years to come, if they can win the race for his signature in the summer transfer window.
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