This article forms part of our Profit Players feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how well a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how good of a deal the club managed to achieve.
For Europa League participants Glasgow Rangers to sign a player who had never been higher than English League One level might seem a rather unambitious transfer policy, although they could at least bank on George Edmundson arriving at Ibrox last summer as a man in form.
For only £706,000 (as per TransferMarkt), the 6 ft 4 (1.9m) Oldham defender who had been named in the 2018/19 EFL League Two team of the season represented a low-risk purchase for Steven Gerrard and one who probably expected to be not much more than backup to Connor Goldson, Nikola Katic and Filip Helander.
That indeed was Edmundson’s lot for the first half of his debut season with the ‘Gers, making just six senior appearances before the end of 2019 and starting only one Premiership match (as per TransferMarkt). However, while the Light Blues may have suffered a downturn in form since the New Year, the 22-year-old’s fortunes have ascended at the same time.
He has started in eight matches since the winter break and some of those have been in high-profile games. His first ‘Gers goal came at an opportune time, equalising in a 2-1 home win over Hibernian when the picture was looking bleak for Gerrard’s side. As the team’s form dwindled, many of the Ibrox faithful called for him to play more regularly.
The manager answered those calls by handing Edmundson a surprise start in the second leg of the Europa League round of 32 tie against Braga and it proved to be a coming-of-age night for the defender. An outstanding display saw him win three headers and make eight clearances along with keeping a clean sheet as the ‘Gers advanced to the next stage, deservedly earning rave reviews from plenty of Light Blues supporters.
Should George Edmundson be a regular starter for the 'Gers next season?
Yes
No
He kept his place in the team for the round of 16 first leg against Bayer Leverkusen and scored at Ibrox that night but, in what remains the last match played by the Glasgow club, they fell to a 1-3 defeat.
The stoppage of Scottish football due to coronavirus came at the wrong time for the man affectionately known as ‘the Fridge‘ after he had started to become a fixed presence at the heart of Gerrard’s defence. However, if he can pick up where he left off when the ‘Gers return to action, he will add further weight to the conviction that the £706,000 fee invested in him last July represented a cut-price coup from the Ibrox hierarchy.
‘Gers fans, has Edmundson been sound value for money so far in his time at the club? Comment below with your views!
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