A fully-fledged Scotland internationalist with bags of Scottish Premiership experience almost always makes sense as a transfer candidate for Rangers.

Before we start, no, this is not more column inches and propaganda on the endless Lawrence Shankland links or annual Kenny McLean Ibrox move speculation.

The real obvious Rangers transfer option is former Aberdeen centre-back Scott McKenna.

The 27-year-old is currently without a club after leaving English Premier League side Nottingham Forest at the end of his contract.

A loan spell at Copenhagen saw McKenna's time at the City Ground end with the defender destined to depart after being unable to agree on fresh terms the previous summer.

There can be little doubt of McKenna's pedigree given his impressive performances in Scotland while still at Pittodrie and his central role for Forest in gaining promotion to the EPL.

A cursory glance over his record last season shows he was a regular for Copenhagen in the Superliga and Champions League before playing in all three of Scotland's Euro 2024 group matches.

Simply, McKenna checks too many boxes for the centre-back not to at least be considered by Rangers recruiters - especially as Connor Goldson edges toward the exit door.

Should Goldson complete his proposed switch to Aris Limassol then a replacement would be high on Philippe Clement's list of priorities. And there would be significant pressure to find a capable, affordable and available player on short notice. McKenna is all three.

Available immediately, check. Available for no transfer fee, check. Available to step into the side straight away without the need for adaptation to Scottish football, check.

McKenna is that highly sought-after blend of left-footed centre-back too which would be a bonus for Rangers.

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Currently, Clement has John Souttar, Ben Davies, Leon King, Clinton Nsiala and Leon Balogun as defensive options - with Goldson expected to leave the club after travelling to discuss a transfer.

Of that list, the obvious starting duo would be Souttar and Davies which might not fill supporters with confidence a week out from the Scottish Premiership kick-off.

Of the five, Nsiala and Davies are left-footed but Clement has previously insisted the former is more of a project player who will take time to progress in Glasgow.

With just Davies, then, capable of comfortably playing at left-centre-back, surely an option like McKenna is just too obvious to overlook. Critically, though, it's exactly the type of transfer Rangers have been too slow to act on in recent years.

There is of course the minor matter of McKenna's affinity to Celtic having attended matches with his father who was a season ticket holder.

But that's all it is, a minor matter which would not threaten a transfer move should Rangers deem McKenna a transfer target this summer.

 “To be honest I am open to anything. I would never rule anything out," said the centre-back of a return to Scottish football.

“But in terms of the speculation, that’s all it’s ever been. It has never really gone any further than that and until there is anything that’s more than that I don’t really have anything to think about. I’m without a club so I think I would need to consider anything. As I mentioned, there is nothing as of now so there is nothing to think about.”

If Rangers chiefs were shrewd then the speculation ought to manifest into concrete transfer interest with Goldson heading out, McKenna appears to be an option too obvious to miss.