RANGERS’ summer transfer window has been dominated less by the arrival of household names and more on the bolstering of the academy ranks.

The arrival of 16-year-old Zak Lovelace from Millwall was a coup for the club, with sporting director Ross Wilson keen to streamline the path from academy to first team level.

Several players have had a taste of senior football under the guidance of Giovanni van Bronckhorst already, and the Rangers Review has identified four youngsters ready to make the leap towards regular first team inclusion next season.

Alex Lowry

Many Rangers fans will be keen to see the 18-year-old as part of the first team squad next season after impressing in his brief outings last term.

The midfielder featured seven times last season after stepping up from the B team, managing three starts in the Scottish Premiership. He earned rave reviews for his display in the 1-0 win over Livingston at Ibrox in January.

Lowry has composure in abundance, showing a fleet of feet in possession of the ball to evade his opponents. Indeed, his impressive performances led to a Scotland U21 call-up last campaign.

The 18-year-old ended last season on a high following his well-taken goal in the 3-1 win at Tynecastle over Hearts on the final day of the season. Giovanni van Bronckhorst appears sufficiently impressed with the midfielder and, with Rangers having yet to strengthen in the midfield department, Lowry is likely to be a key part of the midfield rotation next season.

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Leon King

The 18-year-old was handed his debut by Steven Gerrard in a League Cup victory over Falkirk in November 2020 and he has continued his trajectory towards the first-team ever since.

It was a shock to many when he replaced the injured Filip Helander in the 4-0 win over St. Mirren towards the end of last season with Leon Balogun also on the bench. The decision not to renew the Nigerian’s contract is perhaps an indicator that King is set to play a more prominent role in the defensive set-up next season.

The 18-year-old was given the nod by van Bronckhorst in the wins over Dundee United and Hearts at the end of last term, although he has yet to feature in his favoured role on the right-hand side of central defence.

John Souttar’s arrival this summer could throw a spanner into the works, raising the prospect of a loan move next season. However, the club have so far been reluctant to explore that option and the 18-year-old could benefit from a season as Connor Goldson’s understudy.

Charlie McCann

The midfielder already has a senior Northern Ireland call-up under his belt, with Ian Baraclough sufficiently impressed by the 20-year-old’s exploits in the U21 set-up during last March's camp.

McCann was a standout for the B team in the Lowland League last season, chipping in with nine goals as he displayed his huge personality in midfield. However, the 20-year-old has been most likened to his Northern Ireland teammate Steven Davis given his ability to rake passes over long distances.

Having turned 20 earlier this year, next season could prove pivotal in the midfielder’s development at Ibrox. After tasting senior football at international level, McCann is surely knocking on the door of the Gers first team.

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Tony Weston

The 18-year-old striker joined first team captain James Tavernier for an individual strength and conditioning regime in Dubai earlier this summer as he eyes a breakthrough into the senior squad next season.

Having arrived from Blackpool in the summer of 2020, Weston has taken the Lowland League by storm for the B team, netting 21 times last season as he ended the season as the league’s second top goalscorer.

However, the 18-year-old plays in a position that is perhaps the most difficult to make the step up into given the physical demands. Similarly, he is competing for minutes with established stars such as Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe, with Antonio Colak’s arrival also in the pipeline.

Weston was given 20 minutes at the end of the final day victory over Hearts last campaign, and his exploits in the Lowland League are going to be increasingly difficult for van Bronckhorst to ignore as he assembles his squad ahead of next season.