Rangers learning transfer lessons with Leon Balogun return and Ibrox moaners just don't get it - Barry Ferguson

I’ve heard a bit of mumping and moaning from some Rangers fans following the return of Leon Balogun this week.

But as far as I’m concerned it’s another sign the club is not only moving in the right direction again but also correcting some of the mistakes that were being made in the transfer market 12 months ago. Yes I get it. There will be fans out there who don’t like the idea of turning back the clock for players who have been there before. They want fresh faces and new ideas and maybe they see the re-signing of Balogun as a bit lazy or uninspiring.

But they’re absolutely wrong. The truth is the people making the decisions last summer made a serious blunder when they allowed him to leave on a free transfer. That’s why Gio van Bronckhorst ended up playing with James Sands, Leon King and John Lundstram as centre-halves in the group stages of the Champions League. And look how that turned out.

Balogun has not been brought back to be a starter in Michael Beale ’s first choice XI. He’s there as back-up in case Rangers are hit with the same kind of injury problems which hurt them so badly last season. And he is an excellent option to have.

I said at the time it was a no brainer to give the guy another year because Rangers needed cover. Instead, they went into the campaign with John Souttar, Ben Davies and Filip Helander competing for a place beside Connor Goldson.

Souttar was always going to carry a risk because of his previous record of injuries. Helander had a season ticket for the treatment table and Davies needed to get up to speed after a year without playing at Liverpool.

So when Goldson then picked up a knock Rangers were in all sorts of bother and Beale has been smart enough to make sure he’s not left in the same position now that King is facing a number of months on the sidelines. I like it.

As much as I’m gutted for King I am impressed at how decisive Beale has been in addressing the issue. As soon as the scans came through and it was clear the injury was significant, Beale was on the blower and making sure that he has another experienced, tried and tested centre-half to turn to.

A guy who is obviously delighted to be here and an international class defender who, at the age of 35, is not going to break the bank. That means the rest of whatever money and wages are left in the kitty can be ploughed into the other areas of the team that Beale has identified as needing strengthened. Seriously, what is not to like?

Yes, Lewis Mayo might not be too pleased but the young man shouldn’t take it personally. This season of all seasons, Rangers simply can’t afford to take any unnecessary risks because the title simply has to come home.

If that means the likes of Mayo need to go out on loan to pick up more first-team experience then I’m afraid that’s just the way it works at a club the size of Rangers. His chance will come. But right now Beale needs options that he knows he can hang his hat on and Balogun fits right into that category.

He might be here as a back-up but he’s good enough to hold onto his place if he does get into the team. He might not have the legs he had three years ago but he’s rock solid and reliable. If you recall, he even filled in at right-back when James Tavernier was injured and he was outstanding in that position too.

I also love the fact he’s so happy to be getting a second bite at the cherry because that shows me he really bought into the club and didn’t want to leave. He really gets it, he knows exactly what is required and he’s buzzing to be a part of it again. That’ll do for me. I’d take Balogun as back up all day long.

It excites me now to look at the squad that Beale is building and the amount of competition there is going to be for starting places. I’ve said before, I’ll reserve judgement until I see all these guys out there on the pitch trying to play in front of 52,000 Rangers fans at Ibrox because that’s when you see if they are able to cope with the demands which come with the jersey. And that’s harder than even they might realise.

But the signs are really encouraging in terms of the direction the club is moving in and the way the manager’s plans are being so aggressively backed. I expect to see at least another couple of major signings coming through the door in the next couple of weeks.

Jose Cifuentes has been identified to beef up the centre of midfield –and if that gets over the line he’ll be fighting for two places along with Nicolas Raskin, Ryan Jack and John Lundstram.

I also won’t be surprised if Danilo comes in from Feyenoord. If Antonio Colak goes that would leave Beale picking from nine players – Danilo, Cyriel Dessers, Kemar Roofe, Fashion Sakala, Todd Cantwell, Sam Lammers, Kieran Dowell, Tom Lawrence and Ianis Hagi – for four forward positions.

Now that really does feel like something worth getting excited about. It’s sending out a message that Rangers mean business again and that Celtic have been far too dominant for far too long.

The only way to stop that is to freshen things up inside Ibrox. And while the proof will be in the pudding when they step across that white line, at least no one can accuse Beale and the board of sleepwalking through the summer.

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