With Rangers’ current links to Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer in full flow, we thought we’d take a look at the 20-year old hitman and see what he can offer.

Let’s first of all dispense with the ‘if he’s not good enough for Villa’ talk because there are a million cases of a player who wasn’t in a manager’s plans despite being an excellent asset. That’s just football.

In this case Archer is an established England U21 international with 3 goals in 3 appearances, so that should already stop naysayers from arguing he’s rotten.

Club-wise? Last season was his breakthrough year, and out on loan at Preston he got 8 goals and assists in 20 appearances – he’s mainly a centre forward, not strictly a pure striker, and he’s capable of operating on either wing.

His manager rates him well not that he really knows him that much better than anyone else who didn’t really give a hoot about Aston Villa prior to November, but the lad’s stats are encouraging.

He also got a bit of a chance last season due to Villa’s famous injury issues and that gave him 3 appearances in the PL, not to mention 6 goals in 3 appearances in 3 for them in the cup.

And the second half of the season is where his 8 goals and assists came from, that wasn’t over the whole season, so we’re talking about a lad who went to a new team and league, a tough one, and excelled.

Value?

Yes, he’s in the £5M and rising region, and his stock will keep on growing.

Is he coming to Rangers?

Unknown, but the club is said to be looking at him, but we’re far from alone.

One to watch.