A batch of Rangers’ most-valuable assets went off to showcase their talent at major tournaments this summer.
But Finnish star Glen Kamara is the one who will return to Ibrox with a soaring valuation.
And if clubs from around Europe test Gers’ resolve with bids it could leave Steven Gerrard and the board with a difficult decision to make on the midfielder’s future.
Kamara joined the likes of Borna Barisic, Filip Helander and Alfredo Morelos in representing their countries at Euro 2020 and the Copa America respectively.
But while the rest have struggled to get minutes on the pitch, the 25-year-old was excelling for Finland in group games against Belgium, Denmark and Russia.
Kamara earned rave reviews despite the Finns narrowly missing out on qualifying for the last 16.
Despite having two years left on his Rangers contract, Gerrard has publicly stated the need to tie him down on an improved deal.
After all, he was snapped up from Dundee in 2019 for a paltry £50k, having previously come through the ranks at Arsenal.
However, former Gers chairman Dave King admitted at his last AGM that the club would look to “player trade” this year to balance the books.
Kamara is a key asset and has already been linked with Premier League sides Brighton and Watford.
His Euro finals performances should have alerted more clubs across the continent of his undoubted ability.
But Tom Hateley, who spent a short time with the Finn at Dens Park, says Gers should be trying to hold on to one of their star men.
And if Kamara is to be sold this summer, the son of Ibrox legend Mark insists they shouldn’t accept anything less than £20million for his services.
He said: “It’s definitely the best £50k Rangers have ever spent.
“And if you tried to sell Glen now, you’d get millions for him, the way the market is.
“For Rangers to snap him up for that amount of money was a brilliant piece of business. And he’s obviously kicked on since then.
“Rangers have a big decision to make on Glen after the Euros.
“But he’s at a great age and he’s someone I’d look to keep hold of.
“I’d be trying to build the Rangers side around him. He’s so consistently good and is rarely injured.
“He’d be difficult to replace because of the position he plays – and the way Rangers play.
“They’d need to go after someone who can cover the ground the way he does, shuffling out to the sides, the way their two midfielders have to in that system.
“He plays that role so well, as he showed last season. And clearly Gerrard rates him so highly now.
“The problem for Scottish clubs when they’re selling top players is how the game here is viewed by others.
“Clubs try to get players from Scotland on cut-price deals because they’re playing in the SPFL. But the fact Glen has now gone on to the Euros stage, played well and looked comfortable, means Rangers should be looking at around £20m for Glen at least.
“There are players in England who are hardly playing at their clubs but are commanding crazy fees.
“If I was a manager or director of football, I’d be looking at a consistent performer like Glen. And he’d be worth every penny of a £20m signing.”
Hateley’s dad Mark left Rangers for QPR in 1995 and regretted his decision before returning to Ibrox two years later.
Tom expects Kamara to be tempted by a big move to England having failed to make the grade at the Emirates.
But he has urged his former team-mate to consider the possibility of staying in Glasgow long-term – and becoming a Gers icon.
He said: “The question for Glen is what he wants to do. I’m sure he’s happy at Rangers but he’s a London boy at heart.
“He might have the chance to go to a good Premier League club, so would he want that after being at Arsenal as a kid?
“He was on the fringe of the Premier League back then without quite getting in.
“So it’s about what he wants to do in the future. It’s there for him to stay at Rangers for a large chunk of his career where he could become a club legend.
“If you asked a lot of players who decided to move on from Rangers, whether they regretted it or not, a lot of them would say yes.
“But if a Premier League club comes in for him, Glen would have to look at the financial aspect of it.
“Either way he’s in a great position. He’s at a good age, playing brilliantly well and could have a nice decision to make.”
Hateley isn’t surprised that Kamara is now a top European midfielder, having won a title at Rangers and performed superbly in the Europa League last term.
After seeing the attributes Kamara had at Dundee, he was convinced that, if given a chance at a higher level, he’d grab it.
He said: “Glen was a top player even at Dundee and I’m not surprised that he has played so well at the Euros.
“I’ve watched him go up against some top players at the tournament, guys at Premier League level – and he hasn’t looked out of place at all.
“He’s deceivingly quick with such a long stride. If you give him the ball over a five or 10-metre space, he’s so hard to pin down.
“He’s clever in possession, calm and composed. He manoeuvres the ball so well with his first touch and that comes from his schooling at Arsenal.
“Obviously, he’s developed over time and now he’s got the platform at Rangers to show what he’s all about.
“Glen would be so difficult to play against now – I certainly wouldn’t want to face him as an opponent.”
