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