Ryan Gauld has left Sporting Lisbon on loan but he could have thrived again in the Scottish Premership with Pedro Caixinha’s Rangers.
Despite reinforcing almost every area of their squad with a flurry of summer signings, it seems that Rangers still have work to do in the transfer market. The Daily Record reports that they will hope to make it fourth time lucky with yet another bid for Hearts winger Jamie Walker, who enjoyed the best season of his career with 12 Scottish Premiership goals last season.
However, the report adds that Rangers are only prepared to offer £600,000 – some way off Hearts’ £1 million asking price.
Rangers’ interest in Walker suggests Caixinha wants more creative options
Therefore, you wonder why they did not make a move for player available on a season-long loan who knows the Scottish game and could prove that incision and rabbit-out-the-hat unpredictability that Caixinha is looking out for.
According to the Daily Record, Sporting Lisbon have sent former Dundee United starlet Ryan Gauld, once dubbed ‘the mini Messi’, on a season-long loan to Portuguese newcomers Desportivo Aves. The 21-year-old captured the imagination when swapping Tannadice for Lisbon in the summer of 2014 but it’s fair to say the risk is yet to reap rewards.
Gauld has made just five starts for Sporting in the last three years and spent last season at Vitoria Setubal before a dispute between the two clubs meant a promising loan spell was cut short. Therefore, you wonder whether Gauld would have benefitted from a return to where it all began, the Scottish Premiership.
Gauld is in danger of becoming another forgotten wonderkid
Gauld remains one of the most talented young Brits in the game and, under Caixinha, a manager not afraid to put his trust in youth, he could have been given the platform to display his frightening potential once again.
As it stands, however, Rangers fans may wonder if their club missed a trick not making ignoring a signing low on risk though high on rewards.
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