Rangers Have a Min-su Kim Problem Nobody Is Talking About After Skov Olsen Comparison

Rangers could have another Andreas Skov Olsen situation on their hands, with summer signing Min-su Kim struggling to make the desired impact at Ibrox.

The Light Blues return to Scottish Premiership action this afternoon against Kilmarnock after the international break, with Derek McInnes hoping his side can pick up where they left off.

Rangers had built considerable momentum before the pause, winning six consecutive matches and keeping five clean sheets. McInnes has made an encouraging start to life in Glasgow and will be determined to maintain that progress as his side continue their pursuit of the league title.

However, while the focus will be on extending their winning run, Kim is one player who needs to start delivering more in the final third.

The South Korean arrived from Girona during the summer in a deal worth a reported £8.5 million, with Rangers investing heavily in a young attacker capable of operating across several positions.

Despite his potential, Kim has yet to produce the goals and assists expected of a player brought in to strengthen the club’s attacking options.

Rangers previously struggled to get the best out of Skov Olsen

Kilmarnock’s previous Premiership visit to Ibrox came in February, when Rangers were managed by Danny Rohl. The hosts produced an emphatic display, winning comfortably after scoring five times.

James Tavernier, Bojan Miovski, Andreas Skov Olsen, Oliver Antman and Mikey Moore all found the net, while Kilmarnock’s response proved little more than a consolation.

Rangers created 2.84 expected goals and registered six big chances during a dominant performance. Yet the match also highlighted a frustrating aspect of Skov Olsen’s spell in Scotland: his goal was the only one he managed in the Premiership for the club.

The Danish winger had arrived on loan from Wolfsburg during the January transfer window, bringing considerable expectations with him. However, he struggled to turn his attacking ability into consistent end product before returning to Germany at the end of the campaign.

His league numbers underlined the problem. Across nine appearances, Skov Olsen scored once, recorded three assists and produced 0.71 expected goals. Although he contributed creatively, his overall performances failed to convince Rangers to activate their option to make the move permanent.

That experience serves as a warning for the club as another highly rated attacking recruit attempts to establish himself at Ibrox.

Min-su Kim is struggling to make his mark

Rangers moved quickly to strengthen their forward line in the summer, bringing Kim to Scotland from Girona for a reported £8.5m.

At just 20, the South Korean offers plenty of versatility. He can operate on either wing or feature centrally as an attacking midfielder, making him a useful option for the different systems McInnes employs.

However, versatility alone will not be enough to justify the investment. Kim needs to turn his promising moments into tangible contributions, and his early Premiership performances have raised questions about his effectiveness in the final third.

The youngster has made six appearances across all competitions without scoring or registering an assist. His league record is particularly concerning given the opportunities he has had to make an impression.

Across five Premiership appearances, Kim has averaged 3.2 shots per game and accumulated 1.72 expected goals, yet he has still failed to find the net.

His expected assists figure of 0.44 also suggests that his creative contribution has been limited so far.

Those statistics do not necessarily mean Kim lacks the quality to succeed. Instead, they illustrate the difference between getting into promising positions and producing the decisive moments that can win matches.

For a club with Rangers’ ambitions, that distinction matters.

Why McInnes should consider dropping Kim

Kim started Rangers’ 1-0 victory over Celtic before the international break, but his place in the team should not be guaranteed when Kilmarnock arrive at Ibrox.

His long-range effort helped create the opportunity from which Ryan Naderi scored the decisive goal against Celtic, meaning he still played a part in an important result.

Nevertheless, one positive contribution should not overshadow the broader question surrounding his performances. Rangers need their attacking players to provide a consistent threat, rather than relying on occasional moments of quality.

Findlay Curtis could offer McInnes an alternative on the right flank after an impressive international break with Scotland’s Under-21s, during which he registered four assists.

Introducing Curtis would give Kim an opportunity to regroup while also rewarding another young attacker for his recent form.

That would not represent a final judgement on the summer signing. Rather, it would allow McInnes to manage the youngster’s development without placing unnecessary pressure on him to deliver immediately.

Kim still has time to prove himself at Rangers

Comparing Kim with Skov Olsen might appear premature, particularly given the difference in their ages and the stage of their careers.

Skov Olsen arrived at Ibrox with greater experience, whereas Kim is still adapting to a new league, a different tactical environment and the expectations that come with representing Rangers.

His early statistics are a concern, but they should be viewed in context rather than treated as definitive evidence that the move will fail.

With time, coaching and greater confidence, Kim could develop into a much more productive player. His ability to operate in several attacking positions gives McInnes options, while his willingness to shoot suggests he is at least finding opportunities to influence games.

Rangers will want a better return from an £8.5m investment, however, and the coming weeks could be important in determining how quickly Kim progresses.

The comparison with Skov Olsen is therefore less a verdict on the South Korean’s future and more a reminder of what happens when potential is not matched by consistent end product.

Kim has the talent and time to write a different story at Ibrox. Now he needs to start showing Rangers supporters why the club invested so heavily in him.