Freedman, who mentored Burke at Nottingham Forest, is among the bookies’ favourites to replace Mark Warburton at Rangers, after the Englishman departed Ibrox in acrimonious circumstances.
Former Nottingham Forest manager Dougie Freedman
A quick Twitter search will tell you Rangers fans aren’t entirely enamoured by the prospect of Dougie Freedman’s appointment as manager at Ibrox.
The Scot came from nowhere this week to become the 3/1 front-runner to succeed Mark Warburton, a movement which is yet to be reinforced by any real substance.
Nevertheless, would the appointment of Freedman be so bad for Rangers? It could have one, fairly significant benefit after all.
If Rangers are to bridge the gap on Celtic next season and even beyond, their recruitment is in desperate need of improvement, and the capture of a player like Oliver Burke would certainly have the Gers aiming in the right direction.
The Scotland international signed for Bundesliga side RB Leipzig from Nottingham Forest in a £13 million deal only a few months ago, but has only made two starts for his new employers and is already being tipped for a return to the UK next term.
With Burke still only 19, it is unlikely Leipzig would be ready to cut their losses so soon, therefore a loan move is perhaps a more realistic outcome. And with Freedman at the helm, Rangers is a destination which is sure to appeal should Burke be allowed to leave.
It was under the boyhood Rangers fan that Burke properly made his breakthrough at Forest, after the Kirkcaldy-born winger caught Freedman’s eye in an early reserve-team fixture.
Nottingham Forest’s Oliver Burke celebrates
And in an interview with the Scottish Sun last year, Burke credited his former boss for shaping his career during the latter’s year at the City Ground.
Although appointing a manager for the sole purpose of signing one specific player on loan does sound a little extreme, Burke’s capture would be Rangers’ biggest by far this decade and could convince other top talents to follow suit.
Would you take Freedman at Rangers if it meant landing his former Nottingham Forest protege?
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