Thus, we’re covering the story regarding Gareth Henderby possibly taking Zeb Jacobs’ place as Academy Director, just as most Rangers sources. And we’re looking at the amazing £70 million transfer budget that, according to certain reports, he managed to generate over his four years at his current club, Nordsjaelland.
Henderby has been leading the Ghanaian Right to Dream Academy for the past 13 years. The academy turned forth Mohamed Diomande, who isn’t exactly lighting up Ibrox. However, Rangers will pay Nordsjaelland £4.5M for his earnings this summer. Ernest Nuamah of Ghana, yeah, and that Right to Dream school—for which Henderby has made the Danes around £25 million—Ibrahim Osman, who took home £20 million, Kamaldeen Sulemana, who made £17 million, and Mohammed Kudus, who made £10 million—are among his greatest achievements. That’s £72 million, give or take, and it’s put the Danish team on a very good footing. Henderby’s work in the Ghanaian Academy has produced a ton of players for Nordsjælland, who have sold them for large money.
Rangers have undoubtedly seen this; the man has carved himself a very specialized market and is providing the “best” (we’ll get to that) Ghanaian players his Academy has produced to a Danish team. The funniest bit, finally? The price the Danes are asking for any of these players is far too high. The Scandinavians are copying Brighton’s strategy of acquiring inexpensive, unproven talent, allowing it to flourish in their own poor league (Brighton would loan out said players), and then selling it for a huge profit—half of these players are not even 20 years old. With £25 million, Ernest Nuamah was doing fairly well in Denmark. In France? 32 games, 5 goals, 5 assists.
Not in the vicinity of the player he sought in Denmark. And Sulemana Kamaldeen? They paid £20M for him, but he left Rennes after failing miserably, and he has since contributed three assists in 26 games for Southampton. Simply put, Henderby’s incredible genius lies in making mediocre to excellent players appear amazing, which he then sells for a huge price to major league teams that are starving for players. To be honest? It’s not a horrible model to copy, Rangers. If we can consistently raise £20 million for athletes such as Calvin Bassey, we won’t have done too badly. Gareth, welcome on board!