RANGERS signing Jake Hastie is not a gamble. It is a bit of a no-brainer to be honest and he will go on to be a great bit of business for them in the coming years.

When you sign a 20-year-old on a long-term deal, of course you are thinking a wee bit down the line in terms of really getting the best out of him and Jake reaching his full potential in the game.

But I am sure Steven Gerrard will be expecting him to come in and make an impact for Rangers next season. If he is part of the squad, he is there to play and contribute to a team that will be looking to challenge for the title.

Jake has a chance to go in there and stake his claim for a spot and it will be really interesting to see how he does for Rangers as he looks to kick-on again next term.

Glasgow Times:

READ MORE: Lee McCulloch: Rangers must maintain their recent run in closing weeks of the campaign

He went on loan to Alloa in the first half of the season and done well there. He would have come back from there more mature, having seen the real footballing world.

You meet you people, you see a different level of football and you learn quickly in that scenario. Importantly, you find out what it will take for you to make your way in the game in terms of your discipline on and off the park.

I think the loan has been brilliant for him. Ability wise and mentality wise, he has really come on and he burst onto the scene in the second bit of the campaign.

He will prove to be a really good signing and even if they have to pay a few hundred grand, it should be well worth it. It is a cracking deal.

Hastie still has so much time on his side to improve and grow. He can get better and he will get better through time and experience.

Glasgow Times:

READ MORE: Scotland and Manchester United keeping tabs on Darren Fletcher

He has proven that he can play in the Premiership but it will take him time to get used to playing for Rangers as opposed to Motherwell. It is different when you are at the Old Firm, but I don’t see that transition being a problem for him given the level of ability he has got.

If it takes him a wee bit of time to settle, because of his age and the step up from Motherwell, that would be understandable.

But he is an investment for Rangers and when you look at the way he plays and the goals he has scored, you can tell that he has certainly got something about him.

When he cuts in from wide and has a shot at goal, he plays like he is fearless and full of confidence, and that is what I like about him.

I know there were a lot of teams in England looking at him and some were keen, especially given what it would have cost them in compensation. He could have signed and then went out on loan.

Glasgow Times:

READ MORE: Lee McCulloch: Rangers kids must follow Ross McCrorie's path into Ibrox first team

But it is Rangers that have now got a deal over the line and when you consider the likely money involved, I don’t see it as a gamble. It is an investment and Rangers are getting someone that has good pedigree and undoubted talent.

Rangers should be in the market for the best young Scottish players and the best players in the Premiership.

That is what Steven is doing and there will be plenty more to come as he continues to build a squad.

He has changed the profile of the Rangers squad since becoming manager and there is a resale value within the group now.

Over the last couple of years, there wasn’t many you could look to move on if you wanted to bring a bit of money in. That is different with guys like Jordan Jones and Hastie coming in and there are assets at Ibrox now.

Rangers can now get a return on their investments in terms of the balance sheet but Steven needs them to perform on the park first.