When Rangers signed a pre-contract deal with Dujon Sterling, the club are said to have held off Premier League competition.
More specifically, Sterling found the Gers’ offer of first-team exposure more alluring that the idea of extending his contract with London giants Chelsea.
Having come through the youth ranks at Stamford Bridge, Dujon Sterling earned first-team exposure at the Blues, playing a game apiece in both domestic cups in England.
A loan stint at Stoke City – another who Rangers held off to sign the defender – then offered the versatile defender a route out of Chelsea’s competitive academy set-up.
But after emerging as Rangers’ Mr Reliable in a number of positions, the club have thrown their support behind Dujon with a new contract that sees him commit to Ibrox for a further year.
Dujon Sterling agrees new Rangers contract
It’s almost like Dujon Sterling was a readymade player in the Philippe Clement mould, although it wasn’t the Belgian manager who brought him to Ibrox.
Michael Beale had convinced his ex-academy player to swap London for Glasgow but it’s been the Belgian boss who has most utilised Sterling’s attractive versatility.
In fact, Sterling has scarcely actually played in the right-back position for which he was trained, instead spending the bulk of his time on the park at left-back, centre-back, central-midfield and either flank.
Still only 24-years-old, Rangers see big things in the defender and needless to say Clement is ‘delighted’ to see Sterling commit to the club for four more years in total.
Dujon Sterling himself has also spoken glowingly about Rangers and his decision to commit further to a club where he is building an ever bigger reputation.
“It is good to get it over the line, I am obviously proud,” Sterling told the official Rangers website.
“The club have rewarded me because they thought my performances were good last season and for me it is just about building on that this season.
“It gives me extra motivation that I want to do more, I have got the reward and now I want to repay the favour.
“It is a great place to work every day, with a good manager, teammates, staff and fans. It feels like a home and for me there was no reason to change that.”
The heir to James Tavernier at Ibrox?
The new contract is a big statement of support for Dujon Sterling, with Rangers’ protecting their interests with the defender.
English-trained with the ability to play in a number of positions, Rangers will hope to flip Sterling for a big payday in the seasons ahead but not before he leaves his mark in Govan.
The situation also raises a question about the long-term future of Rangers captain James Tavernier, who continues to come under scrutiny this season.
The long-serving right-back is the club’s bonafide starter in the position but Philippe Clement has spoken about phasing the 32-year-old out of the first-team.
Perhaps Dujon Sterling is the man signposted to be the heir to Tavernier’s Ibrox throne.
But even if the defender isn’t, you can be rest-assured he’ll be more than capable of doing a job anywhere else on the pitch.
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