Nils Koppen reveals Rangers want to 'sign the best' in Scottish transfer claim

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Nils Koppen has his work cut out in his new role at Rangers with issues in both the first-team and academy.

Now appointed as technical director, the Belgian has already played a key part in ripping up the recruitment department at the Ibrox outfit but has now set his sights on the academy too.

The lack of Auchenhowie graduates coming through under Philippe Clement has been recognised, but Koppen is determined to ring the changes at Rangers.

• READ MORE:Nils Koppen names three Rangers priorities and hints at Auchenhowie return for familiar faces

Nils Koppen wants to ring the changes in Rangers academy

The first step is accepting that things could be better, and Koppen has made that acknowledgment in his announcement video with Rangers TV:

"I think there’s a lot of good work to be done already in the last years within the academy but we cannot be satisfied with the general output of the academy.

"I think one of the objectives still will be to sign the best talents of Scotland to maintain our best talents because I’m sure we’ve got a lot of good talents already in the building.

"We’re facing a challenge with the B Team where there’s not an ideal platform so it’s on us to try to get the best challenges and opportunities for the boys in our club.

"What we want to do is decrease age to make a step to the first team to make their breakthrough. We want to do that by strategic partnerships with other clubs by changing our own philosophy, by bringing the players on a younger age expose them to the first team training environment to give them the opportunity to show themselves and make the right steps at the right moment."

Why signing the best of Scottish talent is only half the battle

There is no point signing the "best talents of Scotland" if there isn't a pathway to the first team.

Bailey Rice is the obvious and best example compared to Lennon Miller, his former age group teammate at Motherwell.

The Scotland national team has seen a resurgence with the likes of Billy GIlmour and Ben Doak at it’s heart and Rangers have to set their sights higher by showing that they can give the best teenagers a route to first team football.

Players like Leon King, Alex Lowry and Robbie Fraser are currently in no man’s land, filling a spot in the squad to tick a UEFA box, but only ever getting to play glorified friendlies or challenge cup games against lower league SPFL sides.

Koppen's career was built on his early days scouting for academies which, at least, should give some encouragement in terms of talent identification.

Bringing coaches with a Rangers background to the club will help, as will making sure that key appointments are made at each age group and, in particular, a new academy director.