Ferguson annoyed at Mulligan development as Rangers transfer priority shared

Rangers have been enjoying a spending spree in preparation for the new season.

Several new signings have been completed already this summer, with more set to come imminently.

However, not everyone has been impressed with the club's transfer strategy so far.

Ferguson urges Rangers not to ignore Scottish talent

Former Rangers star Andy Little recently urged the Ibrox club to focus more on signing Scottish talent.

New manager Russell Martin has only added one Scot to his squad so far; Lyall Cameron from Dundee, with that deal being struck in January.

Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News, former Rangers midfielder Derek Ferguson agreed that it's important to have a core of Scottish players in the team, with that having to be a priority going forward.

Ferguson was particularly disappointed that Rangers did not move for Josh Mulligan, who joined Hibernian from Dundee earlier this window.

He said: "I've spoke about this for a number of years now. If you look at the successful Rangers teams of the past, there's always been a core of Scottish players.

"Those Scottish players weren't necessarily the best players in those sides, but they helped form an identity. The Scottish boys bring a drive and determination that others don't always bring."

"There's plenty of new players in but we need that Scottish core running through. We've missed out on a few of them.

"You look at Mulligan who has gone to Hibs - he was an absolute no-brainer; Shankland as well. Rangers have to be careful they don't miss a trick there with new signings."

There are plenty of Scottish stars who could thrive at Rangers

Of course, winning is the most crucial part of football, but identity and tradition is important too.

There are countless examples of teams that threw money at foreign superstars who failed because there was no team spirit.

That can happen when you sign a ton of players in one transfer window. Rangers will need to be careful not to fall into that trap.

There are plenty of Scottish players available who would thrive at Rangers. Mulligan and Shankland are two examples of these. If you want more, look at the handful of Scots who are excelling in Italy.

It's not always easy for Rangers to compete with European giants for the best Scottish players, but it's something they should still aim to do. When brought together, these players can be greater than the sum of their parts, as proven by several successful Rangers teams in the past.

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