IN a bygone era, Rangers flexed their muscle in the transfer market by signing the England captain. Mark Warburton has done so again, but this time it is a very different proposition.

He has not recruited a player of the calibre of Terry Butcher at his prime, he has not shocked the world by clinching a record-breaking deal.

But, in his own way, Jordan Rossiter, the England Under-19 skipper, could prove to be a shrewd bit of business for Rangers as he looks to make a name for himself north of the border.

Rossiter is Liverpool through and through, the Kop kid who always dreamed of pulling on the red shirt at Anfield.

The midfielder spent 13 years working his way through the ranks, was tipped for greatness and was compared to Steven Gerrard.

The decision to leave, then, should have been the toughest of his fledgling career. Instead, he barely had a second thought.

Rossiter said: “Liverpool is a big club but Rangers is just as big in the world.

“I had breakfast with the gaffer, Davie and Frank back in May and I knew then where I was going to end up.

“Walking in here, they are great facilities, and the stadium. I am looking forward to it.

“It is a big challenge. I could have stayed and played 21s or been in and around the first team in the Premier League.

“But I want to come up here and test myself. It is a good league and good competition.

“It is a big league, a chance to come and win trophies. Rangers are a massive club, it has always been known for winning trophies and challenging at the top. We have an obligation to get back there.

“I made the decision myself to be honest. I think the manager can bring me on as a player and I want to do well for the club.

“Everybody is different and I could have stayed in England and been comfortable staying at home. I want to come and test myself at a massive club like this.

“I don’t think people down south realise how big this club is in Glasgow and around the world. You see it around the city and everyone loves the club.”

It is Warburton who will now look to bring out the best in Rossiter but the midfielder has already had his fair share of mentors to look up to.

At 17, he became Liverpool’s second youngest scorer with a 30-yard strike at Anfield and was seemingly destined for a bright future in Red.

It is with the Light Blues where he will realise his ambitions, though.

Rossiter said: “At Liverpool it was a good group of lads and there are a lot of players.

“When I was coming through, the likes of Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard are the Scouse lads that you look up to and have been at the top level. So you always look towards them

“They put their arm around you and when they see you out on the pitch they help you out.

“I remember Jamie was saying to always be yourself and don’t be scared to show your personality. Get on the ball and get your tackles in. That is what I want to do.

“It was a tough decision but it was made easy when I saw how big the club is.

“When you know you are leaving a club like Liverpool, when a club like Rangers shows an interest there was only one place I was going to end up.”

Rossiter became somewhat of the forgotten man at Ibrox in recent weeks as Warburton’s side kicked off their campaign with three Betfred Cup wins.

He returned to Glasgow in time to round off Group F as he made his debut against Stranraer on Monday night and the midfielder is determined to make an impact at Ibrox.

Rossiter said: “I know I am not coming up here to play every game.

“I have to work my hardest on and off the pitch to impress the manager and let’s hope I do so. It’s a big challenge and one I am really looking forward to.

“I have seen their philosophy at training. It’s a passing team and that is what my game is, to get the wall and keep it ticking over. It’s a team that plays the right way and that’s what really sold it for me.

“I had a little look everywhere. I knew I was finished at Liverpool and that I would be leaving so I came up to have a look round.

“If they had shown me the training ground or not [it wouldn’t have mattered].

“The lure of Rangers is massive, whether the training ground was a low or high standard, but it helps the facilities are great. There is everything you need as a player.”