Cole McKinnon set for real Rangers breakthrough in new Ibrox plan
Cole McKinnon and other youngsters could be set to benefit as Philippe Clement makes an effort to integrate more young talent at Rangers.
The Gers are set to lose a host of senior stars for nothing as their contracts expire at the end of this season.
And Clement feels it is important for the financial health of the club to invest in developing young talent.
The Belgian brought McKinnon off the bench for his fourth senior Rangers appearance in the 5-2 win over Dundee on 14 May, while fellow 21-year-old Robbie Fraser was handed his debut.
Clement told the Daily Record (15 May) after the game: “[McKinnon and Fraser] have been training a lot with us to get the principles, to understand the demand in the first team.
“We are busy with this programme to get integration into the first team as much as possible in our training. We are going to continue with that.
“This club comes out of a financial difficult situation. The club needs for the future to get also money in by producing or making players better, getting young players in and to make them better to sell them.”
Can Cole McKinnon break into the Rangers first team?
Amid a summer in which head coach Clement is expected to oversee a significant overhaul, more spaces could open up in the senior squad for any young talents that impress the Belgian in training.
Six senior players are out of contract at the end of the season, while four loan spells are set to end.
Essentially, Rangers are set to lose 10 senior players without earning a single penny from their departures, aside from what is freed up in the wage budget.
With other potential departures on the cards – such as Jack Butland, who is reportedly keen on a return to England – it will be nigh impossible for the club to purchase replacements for that many players – leaving the door open for the likes of McKinnon.
The 21-year-old central midfielder scored on his first-team debut exactly two years before his most recent outing against Dundee, netting in a 3-1 win over Hearts.
He spent last season on loan at Partick Thistle, earning valuable experience and playing 31 times across all competitions. However, with three substitute appearances for Rangers this term, he may have been better served spending another campaign out on loan.
If Clement is set to hand out more chances to young players next season, though, McKinnon could finally be set to kick on and enjoy a breakthrough year at Ibrox.
In other Rangers news, the Gers’ Jefte deal is now in doubt after a new development.
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