AS RANGERS lined up for the start of the 2021-22 season, a number of the predictions about the team that would have been made then remain true to this day.

Alfredo Morelos remains critical to Rangers playing well. James Tavernier has scored and assisted a barrel-load of goals. Rangers are a different team when Ryan Jack is fit and available. Connor Goldson has played almost every game.

Very few could have predicted the impact Calvin Bassey would have on this Rangers team.

When Bassey signed from Leicester City, it felt like a safe backup option. Steven Gerrard’s emphasis on two players for every position was well known and Bassey was a sensible option when Borna Barisic was unavailable.

Throughout last season, Bassey did exactly that. Not always composed or reliable, but he showed signs of promise when he filled in at left-back. There was little expectation from the support and he showed all the signs of a player growing into a big club. What benefited him was playing in a very good Rangers side that strolled through the season.

In his second season, Bassey has grown into a completely different player. In fact, his form under Giovanni van Bronckhorst has been so good that there are signs he could leave Rangers for a bigger transfer fee than any other player in the squad.

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There is a couple of reasons I rate Bassey highly enough to suggest this. Firstly, he has all the raw talents that make him suitable for the English Premier League. His pace and strength are incredible. Never more so than in Rangers’ recent European performances; during the games against Borussia Dortmund and Red Star Belgrade, Bassey was one of the best players on the park.

The ground he covers and the way he can outpace or outmuscle forwards has been very pleasing and comforting. In all three of those games, he has been in contention for Man of the Match. These things don’t go unnoticed. While Rangers play 50+ games a season, scouts in bigger leagues will pay closer attention to games that closely reflect what the player could potentially face every week at a prospective future club.

What’s been so impressive about Bassey is his ability to perform consistently across two positions. Whether he is slotting in at centre back or left-back, he has impressed. Not many expected to see him at centre back, yet he has many solid performances in that role under his belt. There have been mistakes over his appearances, but no more than those around him.

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Bassey’s age and contract length add to the potential escalation of his transfer fee. Approaching the summer ahead, he now has two years left on his contract. While that still feels like a precarious length in today’s game, it is longer than Ryan Kent, Joe Aribo, and Morelos. It also seems more likely that he would sign a new contract than the above three. The others have been at the club for years and served their time - Bassey currently looks delighted to be playing football regularly. His current contract will likely reflect that of a backup player and he may be tempted to add a couple of years and bring his wage in line with other first-team players.

At the age of 22, Bassey will only continue to improve. His crossing is getting better, he looks more assured every week, and his ability speaks for itself. Critically, he also looks ready-made for the English Premier League, where the big money is. Numerous clubs could look at his quick development and potential and think the outlay for Bassey is relatively cheap compared to other options.

Van Bronckhorst celebrated his 25th game as Rangers manager with a Scottish Cup win in Dundee. Bassey has played in 23 of those games. Nothing suggests he will be budged from the team. The Dutchman deserves huge credit for trusting Bassey whether he has played him at centre back or left-back. The Nigerian international is now unequivocally a first-team player and his value can only grow from this point.

The business end of the season is now in full flow. Bassey’s stamina and dependency could be crucial on all fronts - the surprise package of the season could have a huge say in any trophies Rangers can win.