Rangers transfer miss explained as Amario Cozier-Duberry reveals reasons for deadline day decision
Rangers were unable to sign Amario Cozier-Duberry after a long summer chase for the Brighton youngster.
The England-Under21 star was identified by the 49ers as someone who could give Derek McInnes what he wanted.
The Gers boss was keen to add dynamic and creative players to his squad ahead of the deadline, as early Ibrox showings proved what was missing in the final third.
The Light Blues had a £7.5million bid rejected by Brighton for Cozier-Duberry, who instead joined Middlesbrough on deadline day for a season-long loan.
McInnes knew a bid for the winger was turned down long before the deadline, but the Gers persisted with trying to sign him until they ended up landing on Badredine Bouanani.
Cozier-Duberry has now offered more detailed clarity regarding his decision to join Middlesbrough on deadline day after Rangers' long-standing interest.
Rangers transfer failure makes sense after Amario Cozier-Duberry admission
Rangers were in active talks with Brighton for Cozier-Duberry less than a week before the deadline, despite the arrival of Minsu Kim.
It was clear that the Govan side wanted extra cover at right wing, and they ended up getting that in the end with Bouanani.
The suggestion was that Brighton wanted in excess of £10m for the 21-year-old.
The Seagulls' other plan was that if no club were to meet their valuation, they would offer Cozier-Duberry a new deal before sending him out on loan.
Rangers still had a possibility of signing him, but it became apparent that a loan move to the Championship was likely, as Boro was his preferred choice.
He's now revealed the real reasons behind his decision to stay in England.
Cozier-Duberry said, as quoted by The Northern Echo: "It was important going to a club like Boro where you still have to compete for spaces, but you have a chance of playing and getting consistent minutes to improve.
"My mentality was to not be a number and just go out and try to be valued and contribute as much as I can to a team."
Cozier-Duberry would have been one of several right-wing options for McInnes, with Kim, Findlay Curtis and Daisuke Yokota all having played there this season.
Instead, he is the only natural right-winger at Boro, and was seen as the direct replacement for Morgan Whittaker, who left the Riverside Stadium to join Colorado Rapids ahead of the deadline.
But Cozier-Duberry's case is far more straightforward than Connor Barron's on Teesside.
Truth behind Connor Barron Middlesbrough 'doubt'
Cozier-Duberry has gotten off to a flying start for Boro, scoring in his first two league games for the club, and grabbing the headlines with a smart assist in a draw against Birmingham City before the break.
It's clear that Rangers may have missed out on a top talent by a few million, but Barron is not having the same success in the North East of England - yet.
The 72 have reported that there is "doubt" over the midfielder's future at Boro, but there are plenty of other bits of the same speculation floating about right now.
The truth is that Barron joined Boro late in the window, and like other signings Kim Hellberg made, he's yet to squeeze into the starting squad, having not played a game.
But new signings Sam Byram and fellow £4m midfielder Rokas Puktas are yet to start for the club in the league, which proves Barron just needs time to settle in.
He never joined the club to start ahead of USA internationals Sebastien Berhalter and Aiden Morris, but the Rangers man will get his opportunities over the course of a 46-game season.