He wouldn’t have been the first name on Philippe Clement’s list of targets for his summer rebuild. In fact, whether it was even the Rangers manager’s sole decision to pursue a young Scot from Aberdeen is up for debate.
But if the Belgian didn’t know much about Connor Barron before he checked in at Auchenhowie, he certainly does now. There was no fanfare around the 22-year-old’s arrival at Ibrox in the transfer window.
Signed on a Bosman – with a fee still to be set by an SPFL tribunal – Scotland Under-21 star Barron was arguably the most unglamorous outfield acquisition.
But the midfielder has made an impression on his manager. And right now, when fans are calling for proper leaders off the back of a disastrous Old Firm defeat to Celtic, Clement says Barron is one who’s ready to stand up and be counted.