When one looks at the signing of Dujon Sterling’s market value, no one regarded the then Chelsea defender as anything other than an uninteresting acquisition. Michael Beale, former manager, of course, brought the boy in from down south with absolutely no fanfare whatsoever. One look at the lad’s CV was not that interesting either, and he appeared to be simply nothing more than your average Michael Beale signing. That summer, of course, was not the best under Beale. Rangers did bring in one or two half decent players, but overall the team was not really strengthened despite a high expenditure.
Quiet arrival
Sterling rather arrived unnoticed. He had been on loan, farmed out at lower EFL level football, and had not really found his place. But Beale did say that this was a special player, but then of course he bigged up everybody. So there was no real expectation about Sterling when it came to his potential Rangers career. And in his early days at Ibrox, he did not really stand out either. He barely played for a start, and when he eventually did play, he was not that impressive at right back.
A turning point in midfield
It all changed for Sterling. A, when he started to slightly regain fitness after some injury troubles. And B, more tellingly, when he was placed in defensive midfield. Sterling ended up in the middle dictating a bit of play and enforcing centrally. And he started to look like a real player. A strong, enforcing, defensive midfield stomper who could break up play and keep control in that area. While doing a lot of dirty work but with a bit of prowess and a lot of finesse.
Injuries remain the concern
Unfortunately, the injuries became a problem. He has always had injury issues at Ibrox. He has not been absent for his entire Rangers career, but he has definitely not been available for an awful lot of it either. This is a problem he knows that he has. However, his performance against Dundee United only highlighted just how solid and pivotal Dujon Sterling actually is. He is one that many Chelsea fans do look up at and wonder if he is a guy they should have kept.
A key asset with major value
Sterling is a type of player who, if Rangers can keep him fit, is a difference maker. While he plays at right back these days, he is nevertheless better suited to the centre of midfield. But in either position, he is solid, reliable and will not let the team down. He is clearly a better option at right back than James Tavernier and is quite frankly a more solid prospect than pretty much anybody else in midfield either, but he will not be getting played there and never gets preferred by any manager anymore in that position. His display against United simply highlighted those ongoing qualities, power, pace, positional sense, timing of tackle and his general robustness. The fact that he is just that solid and does not let his team down.
A strong character
He is the kind of guy you want on your side in a fight, put it that way. His market value, of course, is a curious one. He is contracted extensively to 2028, having received that extension under Philippe Clement. He might have been injured at the time he received it, but he definitely deserved it and we are glad that he is still our asset for at least another two and a half or so years. In terms of that value and asset, he would need to have a much stronger run in the team. He would need to be a far more regular player and less injured, but a player of that level where Sterling, we would say, is a proper Rangers level player, is not going to be valued at pennies.
Market value
Dujon Sterling’s market value of £20M would be a reasonable number to expect in these days and ages of inflated sums. If a guy like Fernandez is allegedly valued at £35M, which we will get to separately, then Sterling most definitely is in the big double figures range. He is one we would want to keep, though. Sterling should be better served in a Rangers shirt, as we say, in defensive midfield personally, but at right back, he is still doing an outstanding job. We are glad that we have got this boy. We just need to keep him fit.