Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement has strategically reshaped the team’s composition this summer by focusing on younger talent. At the end of last season, the departures of Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic, Kemar Roofe, John Lundstram, and Jon McLaughlin, all aged around 32, cleared space in the wage budget for new signings.
Clement has since brought in seven players, with all except Liam Kelly aged under 23. This shift underscores Clement’s emphasis on trusting and developing young talent as Rangers prepare for the upcoming campaign.
The potential of players like Hamza Igamane, Clinton Nsiala, and Jefte looks promising, provided they continue developing under the guidance of the Belgian manager.
However, it’s the acquisition of Connor Barron that could stand out as one of Rangers’ most impressive deals this summer, particularly because his playing style and attributes align well with what Rangers are looking for.
What Barron might bring to Rangers in the upcoming season
The former Aberdeen midfielder had been linked with a move to Rangers as early as January this year, although Clement would undoubtedly have monitored the player’s contract situation closely since taking over as manager.
After the conclusion of the 2023/24 season, rumors suggested that Rangers might lose Barron, with interest from Swansea City and several Serie A clubs swirling around.
However, after weeks of speculation, Clement finally confirmed the signing of the Scottish midfielder. It was perhaps the most anticipated transfer for the club this summer, with many fans at Ibrox eagerly awaiting the deal.
Barron, 21 years old, debuted in the Premiership for Aberdeen during the 2021/22 season, but it was in the last season that he established himself as a regular starter in the team.
| Connor Barron’s statistics for Aberdeen during 2023/24 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Metric (per 90) | Premiership | Conference League |
| Accurate passes | 27.6 | 18.8 |
| Key passes | 0.8 | 1.2 |
| Total duels won | 3.7 | 3.5 |
| Accurate long balls | 2.3 | 2.5 |
| Possession lost | 11.7 | 10.5 |
| Tackles | 1.8 | 2.2 |
| Via Sofascore | ||
Across all competitions, Barron played 42 games for Aberdeen, scoring one goal and providing three assists while operating from the midfield.
Within his team, the Scot ranked third in the Premiership for accurate passes per game (27.6), as well as fourth for both key passes per match (0.8) and tackles per game (1.8), highlighting his versatility and effectiveness across various metrics.
There’s no question Barron has shown potential for higher levels, and Rangers have made a savvy acquisition, likely to yield them significant profit in the future.
Currently valued at €1 million (£850k) according to Transfermarkt, Barron’s market worth is expected to rise sharply once he begins performing consistently at Ibrox.
Despite the summer departures of a couple of midfielders, Rangers possess a player in their squad who, despite recent transfer speculation, holds a market value more than double that of Barron’s…
Rangers have struck gold with the signing of Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
In the summer of 2022, Giovanni van Bronckhorst oversaw his inaugural transfer window as manager of Rangers, bringing in a total of seven players, including Tom Lawrence. Lawrence joined the club on a free transfer from Derby County, where he had an impressive record of 62 goal contributions — comprising 37 goals and 25 assists — across 185 appearances for the Rams. His performances established him as one of the Championship’s most potent and effective players during his time at Derby County.
It appeared that Tom Lawrence could have boosted the team’s creativity during the struggling second half of the 2021/22 season, but his limited appearances (just nine due to injuries) hindered his impact. Last season was more fruitful for him, leading to his current market value of €2.5m (£2.1m) as per Transfermarkt. Despite his injury history, this valuation is significant, especially compared to younger players like Barron. If Lawrence moves on, Rangers could potentially earn a solid profit from Van Bronckhorst’s signing of the former Manchester United talent two years ago.
The future prospects for Tom Lawrence
Last month, reports surfaced that Besiktas’ new manager, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, expressed interest in reuniting with Tom Lawrence at the Turkish club during this transfer window. Lawrence has also caught the eye of Ipswich Town, who are gearing up for their return to the Premier League after a long absence. With just one year left on his contract at Rangers, this could be an opportune moment for the club to consider cashing in on him.
During the last season, Lawrence made 32 appearances across all competitions for Rangers, contributing three goals and two assists. In the Premiership, despite starting only 12 league games, he created four significant scoring opportunities, averaged 1.1 key passes per game, and successfully completed 0.6 dribbles with a success rate of 64%.
Former professional Noel Whelan praised Lawrence upon his arrival at Rangers in 2022, highlighting his work ethic and contributions at Derby County during challenging times. Whelan expressed confidence in Lawrence’s ability to integrate well with Rangers, citing his prowess in assists, goals, and his dynamic playing style.
It seems like a decision that hinges on Clement’s assessment of Lawrence’s potential contribution. While Lawrence’s market value might be higher now compared to Barron’s, their trajectories could diverge in the coming year. Lawrence’s tenure at Rangers has been somewhat underwhelming, but Clement might see a chance for him to make a significant impact this season if retained.