Rangers have been on the receiving end of criticism regarding their recruitment in recent times, with the Ibrox outfit struggling to adequately strengthen the starting XI, having largely utilised a similar lineup to the one deployed by former boss Steven Gerrard during his early tenure.

There have been notable missed opportunities with regards to bolstering their ranks, with current head coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst likely rueing the Old Firm side's inability to sign Scotland international, Lyndon Dykes.

The towering marksman had reportedly been a target for the Gers - as well as bitter rivals Celtic - back in the summer of 2020, having provided 12 goals and ten assists during the 2019/20 campaign while at fellow Scottish Premiership side, Livingston.

Reports at the time suggested that the striker was available for a relative bargain fee of just £2m, although the Ibrox side ultimately backed away from pursuing a deal, with the Australian-born menace joining Football League outfit Queens Park Rangers instead.

It also proved a baffling decision as the club subsequently went on to sign Cedric Itten on a £3m deal in that same window, with the Swiss striker ultimately scoring just eight goals in 49 games over the next two years before sealing a departure in the recent window.

As pundit Alan Hutton alluded to at the time, Gerrard and co seemingly "missed a trick" by not signing Dykes, with the player having since gone on to score 22 goals and provide eight assists in 90 games during his time at Loftus Road.

Such impressive form had seen the Scottish giants linked with another swoop back in January, although the £2.7m-rated titan ultimately stayed put in west London, with Van Bronckhorst having since brought in Antonio Colak over the summer.

While the new addition has thrived in his new surroundings - with nine goals in just 13 league games thus far - a further attacking recruit could well have been beneficial, with Colombian ace Alfredo Morelos having just a year left on his current deal amid concerns over both his fitness and attitude.

In Dykes, the Gers could well have had a player who has the quality to "hurt anyone in the world" - according to international colleague John McGinn - with the 26-year-old also having a knack for scoring "all kinds of goals", as per former QPR assistant, John Eustace.

The "fantastic" talent - as also dubbed by Eustace - has particularly impressed for his country in recent years, notably scoring twice off the bench in the recent Nations League victory over Ukraine at Hampden Park on Wednesday evening.

That brace has taken the £6k-per-week gem's total Scotland tally to eight goals in just 23 games thus far since his debut just over two years ago, having proven an "amazing find" for manager Steve Clarke, in the words of pundit Alex McCleish.

With the former Queen of the South man looking likely to play a key role on the international stage in the coming years, Rangers could well be left to rue their previous inaction even further.