AliousThe rumor mill surrounding Rangers’ transfer targets is perpetually spinning, though much of what circulates turns out to be unfounded.
Nils Koppen, the club’s technical director, has only recently begun implementing a recruitment strategy focused on Scottish talent, with Connor Barron and Lyall Cameron marking the initial wave of homegrown signings.
For years, it’s stung Rangers supporters to watch former academy prospect Lewis Ferguson flourish in Italy’s Serie A, but he’s not the lone Scottish talent abroad who slipped through the club’s grasp.
Even with 11 Rangers players representing their nations during the international break, the period can feel lackluster.
Yet Scotland’s victory over Greece offered a glimpse of missed opportunities. Take Max Johnston, for instance—a player linked with Rangers back in 2023. Instead of joining Ibrox, he opted for a cut-price move to Sturm Graz as his Motherwell contract neared its end.
Now, he’s a fully-fledged Scotland international. The oversight was predictable, and warnings about letting him go were loud at the time.
Johnston, son of ex-Rangers winger Allan, always seemed destined to make an impact.
Tall, athletic, and composed with the ball at his feet, the former Motherwell right-back exuded potential. Every Rangers fan could see he was on an upward trajectory, a view echoed by David Edgar of Heart and Hand.
Speaking during the height of the 2023 speculation, Edgar noted, “He’s a player I really rate—stands out every time I watch him. We need Scottish talent, and he’s one we should be targeting.
The catch, of course, is James Tavernier occupying that spot. Competition and planning for the future aren’t bad ideas, but is it the top priority this summer? I get the counterargument, but I can’t shake the feeling we might look back in a few years—like we do with Aaron Hickey, who went to Italy and then south—and regret not seizing the chance.”
Rangers’ revamped recruitment approach under Koppen aims to prevent such misses moving forward. The signing of Dujon Sterling in the summer of 2023 showcased the value of versatile, high-quality additions, but Johnston’s rapid rise underscores why Scottish prospects deserve serious attention.
His case also highlights a broader lesson: signings should align with a club-wide vision, not the fleeting preferences of whoever happens to be in the manager’s seat.
Scotland isn’t a footballing hotbed overflowing with players who can handle the bruising domestic game while also shining in Europe.
Johnston was a rare gem—capable of both—but Rangers, mired in off-field disarray at the time, lacked a sporting director and let Michael Beale steer recruitment.
The result? They passed up a future international mainstay for what could have been a modest six-figure sum, a decision that could haunt them for the next decade.
Alious
