Breaking News:Former Rangers flop ruins Lionel Messi’s night after £5m deal call off
In January 2022, Rangers were sitting top of the Scottish Premiership and looking forward to the knockout stages of the Europa League.
An interesting transfer window saw what looked like, on paper, enough quality to improve Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s squad in both the short and long term.
One signing that Ross Wilson got the deal right for was James Sands who, after arriving as one of MLS’s best young players and a USA international, had his £5m loan to buy transfer cut short to return to New York City FC.
READ MORE: Rangers Transfer History From 2016 to Present
James Sands hits the headlines in post Rangers highpoint
The 24-year old was used as a utility player during his time at Ibrox, with game time at right-back, defensive midfield and centre-half.
Signed to play in midfield, this is where he made his debut, thrown in to partner Glen Kamara against Aberdeen in a draw that signalled the early stages of Rangers title collapse.
His latest performance is a far cry from Pittodrie after scoring an injury time leveller that saw Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez sent home disappointed.
Sands was neat and tidy in possession but didn’t have the physicality needed for the Scottish game or the positional intelligence to play at the heart of defence.
The highlight of his time at Rangers was in the away leg against PSV Eindhoven where he was immense alongside Connor Goldson, unfortunately, all he did was lull Van Bronckhorst into a false sense of security.
When Sands had to face the likes of Liverpool, Ajax and Napoli, he was found wanting.
Rangers have fingers burnt in MLS transfer market
That he struggled with an assortment of SPFL journeymen strikers only made his comments when he returned to NYCFC all the more bizarre:
“I really look forward to those sorts of challenges,” said Sands.
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