What hope do Rangers have of toppling Celtic if they can’t hang onto their brightest young players?
Rangers’ Clint Hill in action with Celtic’s Leigh Griffiths
Celtic are a relentless powerhouse at the top of Scottish football, and steamrollered Rangers this season, flattening hopes of the newly promoted side’s goal of reclaiming top spot.
Rangers’ limp performances cost Mark Warburton his job, with new boss Pedro Caixinha appointed.
What has become clear is that for Rangers to topple Celtic from their throne, it will be a long term project with no quick fix.
Key to doing this is using their academy, producing the best young talents and forging a tight knit squad of players who can equalise Celtic’s financial advantage.
These ambitions have suffered a critical blow.
Goal reports Chelsea have agreed to sign Rangers’ top young talent Billy Gilmour, a deal which will cost the Blues just £500,000.
Rangers fans look dejected
Gilmour is just 15, turning 16 in June, but is already a regular for the under-20s, and has recently been part of first team squads.
His bright Ibrox future seems destined to become a ‘what could have been’, taking the gamble of getting lost in Chelsea’s expansive youth system.
It it a huge blow for Rangers, in footballing terms and in the case of what it represents.
If Gilmour goes onto become one of the UK’s top stars, they have clearly missed out, but even if he flames out, there are no winners.
His exit demonstrates Rangers’ inability to hold onto their brightest talents, an invitation for other clubs to come calling in the future.
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