Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers paid some £2.2 million to sign Carlos Pena.
Derek Johnstone has told The Glasgow Evening Times that Carlos Pena doesn’t look like a good return for the money so far.
The 27-year-old attacking midfielder joined Rangers from top-flight Mexican side Guadalajara for £2.2 million in the summer but has polarised opinion among the Gers’ fanbase.
Pena has four goals in his previous six games under manager Pedro Caixinha, including two in the 3-0 win at St Johnstone six days ago, but there is the feeling that he is a long way from justifying his transfer fee, even if he’s on the right track.
And Johnstone feels that his purple patch won’t be sustainable, suggesting to The GET that Caixinha should have went out and signed Louis Moult, Jamie Walker and Kenny McLean for what he spent on signing the Mexico international.
He said: “I’m looking for more from him. As long as he is scoring goals he will be in the team, that’s what wins you games, but you have to ask the question of what he does if he isn’t scoring?
“The Rangers fans will be pleased that he has started to score and contribute to the team that way, but I worry that it won’t be sustainable, and the jury is still hugely out on him.
“For £2.5million, you could have got Louis Moult, Jamie Walker and Kenny McLean, so that’s the way I look at it when judging his contribution.”
It’s probably too early in the day to judge Pena, who has shown promising signs of improving as of late.
But Johnstone is right – if he doesn’t maintain a decent goalscoring record throughout the season then Rangers fans might wonder whether Caixinha was better off signing the three men mentioned rather than Pena.
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