Rangers Pedro Caixinha wanted attackers and a Scottish spine but Burnley winger George Boyd would not have been the answer.
It is fair to say it is almost impossible to guess how Rangers will perform next season. The club have already brought in eight new faces, nine when Graham Dorrans completes his protracted move from Norwich City, but only former Aberdeen skipper Ryan Jack has any experience of British football.
Furthermore, veteran Portuguese international Bruno Alves is the only new signing most supporters would have been aware of outside the realms of Wikipedia and YouTube montages.
Therefore, who knows how Dalcio, Daniel Candeias and co will adapt to their first ever season on Scottish shores?
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha
At least Rangers would have known what they were getting with George Boyd. According to The Star, the Scotland international will become Sheffield Wednesday’s first summer signing after leaving Burnley when his contract expired at the end of the season.
The 31-year-old is a hard working wideman who has proven himself capable of surviving at the top level of the English game after two spells in the Premier League with Sean Dyche’s Clarets. Though hardly a regular source of goals or assists, his industrious performances mean he missed just five league games in that time.
And, with Rangers on the lookout for options out wide, and Caixinha stating that he wanted a Scottish spine in his version of Rangers, making a move for this intriguing free agent would have made sense on paper.
Yet, Boyd is 31 and has more than likely already hit his peak, with little to no re-sale value. Furthermore, Rangers have enough workhorses with Martyn Waghorn, Jason Holt and co prioritising perspiration over inspiration.
The likes of Dalcio and Candeias may be an unknown quantity but they appear to have the pace and unpredictability that Boyd lacks.
Former Burnley winger George Boyd
Choosing unproven imports over an experienced Scotland international may seem like a risk for Caixinha but there will be no one questioning his recruitment if he reaps the rewards.
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