Rangers boss Gerrard has brought six new players to Ibrox.
Steven Gerrard has already brought in six new players at Ibrox this summer, but he must not overlook Rangers’ prospering Under-23 side as Billy Kirkwood continues to get the best out of a number of up-and-coming stars.
Centre-back was the former Liverpool and England captain’s problem area, following the loss of David Bates to German side Hamburg and Russell Martin’s return to Norwich City after a loan spell.
Gerrard has eased his centre-back woes by bringing in Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic, but doubts remain over the futures of Bruno Alves and Fabio Cardoso.
With the Gers’ transfer budget already stretched, spending more money on the position after the £5million double signing of Goldson and Katic would be foolish on Gerrard’s part. Instead, he should look to mould one of the club’s youngsters.
Step forward Aidan Wilson, who has already made two senior appearances for the Gers. A promising youth product, Wilson is just one of a number of youngsters who made their debuts under Pedro Caixinha.
A Scotland youth international, the 19-year-old is excellent in the air but also more than adept at playing with the ball at his feet – a strength that allows him to offer versatility at right-back.
If Gerrard can continue Kirkwood’s development of Wilson by adding him into the Gers’ first-team training set-up, then he could produce a defender capable of acting as more than adequate back-up to Goldson and Katic.
Indeed, Wilson could be like a new signing, and save the Gers a chunk of their transfer budget which could be spent elsewhere.
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