With a defensive rebuild on the horizon at Rangers following this summers takeover, restructure and appointment of Russell Martin as head coach.
With Leon Balogun already out the door and the duo of Ben Davies and Robin Propper sure to follow we would be left with only John Souttar as a first-team central defender, along with James Tavernier and Dujon Sterling who can both fill in at centre half.
Leon King’s time at Ibrox is also surely up, but another young player who still retains a path to first team football is Clinton Nsiala.
French defender Nsiala joined from Italian giants AC Milan last summer under Phillipe Clement and big things were expected of the former Primavera captain but initially he was placed in the B-team and struggled at first even at that level.
However, following a defensive injury crisis, Clement was left with only the options of King and Nsiala for a trip away to Dundee in early January, despite the team, as they did so often last season, falling to a poor away draw, Nsiala impressed.
Despite his rawness the former France U16 defender showed he has the core attributes to become a real asset to the club in the near and the distant future.
Over the remainder of the season, Nsiala featured in 13 first team matches, scoring once against Fraserburgh in the Scottish Cup, and providing an excellent assist against Aberdeen in the league.
A poor opening half hour at Kilmarnock in Barry Fergusons managerial debut with the club seen Nsiala hooked in the first half, but with age and time to develop on his side, the future is still bright for the Rennes born defender.
Another player who struggled to hold down a regular place in his debut campaign, looking raw having arrived with no previous first-team experience but flourished in his second season at Ibrox was Calvin Bassey.
When Calvin Bassey arrived at Ibrox from Leicester City’s development squad in 2020, he too struggled initially. His first season saw him make just 15 appearances, mostly cameos in a league-winning squad that leaned heavily on its senior figures.
But in year two, under the same coaching structure and with trust placed in his physical and mental growth, Bassey flourished. He made 50 appearances, seamlessly shifting between centre-back and left-back, becoming a cornerstone of the side that reached the UEFA Europa League final and lifted the Scottish Cup. A year later, he was sold for a club-record fee to Ajax.
Despite a poor spell in the Netherlands, Bassey has flourished since his move to the English Premier League, winning Fulham’s player of the year award this past campaign.
Could Nsiala follow that same path?
The parallels are intriguing. Both are strong, left-sided defenders with explosive athleticism. Both were brought in as development projects rather than immediate starters. Both had early struggles but displayed resilience and flashes of high-level potential.
Martin’s arrival is significant. His track record at Swansea and Southampton suggests a coach who values possession, technical quality, and giving young players a platform. Nsiala, with his continental schooling and composure on the ball, fits that profile better than the rugged defenders of the past few regimes.
Of course, development isn’t linear. Nsiala still has much to improve, but he’ll be starting pre-season with a clean slate and likely as one of the few centre-backs on the books. With smart coaching and patience, the club may have another gem on their hands.
In a summer where signings will dominate the headlines, Rangers fans shouldn’t lose sight of the in-house potential already in the squad. Calvin Bassey’s rise felt like a lightning strike, rare and unforgettable. But with the right conditions, Clinton Nsiala could follow in his footsteps.
He may not be Bassey yet, but the journey looks familiar.