Steven Gerrard and the Rangers transfer balancing act as Nigel Spackman makes pressure pot forecast

The arrivals of 20-year-old Calvin Bassey and Charlie Lindsay, 16, are the latest in a line which has seen Glenn Middleton and Nathan Young-Coombes plucked from obscurity in recent years. Dion McGhee, released this week by Manchester United, and highly-rated Ross County teenager James Graham have also been heavily linked with a move to Govan. Even Ianis Hagi, at 21, is still earmarked as one for the future despite the £3million spent prising him from Genk. Spackman hoovered up medals with Rangers in an era when seasoned pros such as himself, Mark Hateley, Stuart McCall, Andy Goram and even Terry Hurlock were the focus of the Light Blues’ recruitment regime. “Getting that balance right between bringing in young talent who you think can have a real future at Rangers and potentially attract a big fee at a later date and having good senior pros at your club to nurture that talent along. “That’s the thing that’s hard in the modern game - trying to find those good pros on and off the field. “In our time Rangers we attracted top players but at the centre of them all was a winning mentality. “Sometime people don’t realise what a big thing it is playing for Rangers or Celtic because the Scottish league doesn’t get the exposure some other leagues do.” Gerrard hasn’t wasted any time in the transfer market this summer despite the unforeseen financial distress the coronavirus crisis brought on football. Hagi and Bassey have already been added and Gerrard said this week “numerous targets” had been identified who he feels will strengthen his side next season. And Spackman echoed his old Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish when asked what position he thinks Gerrard will be prioritising. “You alway shave to be looking at talent elsewhere just in case someone comes in with an offer you can’t turn down for your stars. “But I think they still need another striker even if he stays.” Spackman won three titles in his three years at Rangers and stood in as captain on the final day decider against Aberdeen in 1991 which the Light Blues won 2-0. He knows the strain Gerrard will be under in the coming months to stop Celtic making history.