Rangers may have booked their place in the Premier Sports Cup final, but not every player left Hampden Park with their reputation enhanced.

While Badredine Bouanani produced an impressive performance in the 1-0 victory over Aberdeen, fellow summer arrival Minsu Kim struggled to make the same impact, attracting some particularly harsh criticism from Chris Sutton.

The South Korean winger arrived at Ibrox with significant expectations after Rangers reportedly committed between £8.5million and £9million to secure his services. However, his performances have so far failed to convince everyone that he was worth such a substantial investment.

Kim has received opportunities under Derek McInnes, but he is still waiting to register his first goal or assist for the club. Although there have been flashes of his ability, his latest appearance against Aberdeen has prompted further questions about what he is actually bringing to the Rangers attack.

Sutton was particularly unimpressed, and his comments became even more interesting when he brought young Rangers winger Findlay Curtis into the discussion.

Chris Sutton Delivers Brutal Verdict on Minsu Kim

Speaking live on air, Sutton questioned whether Kim was providing enough creativity and attacking influence to justify his place in the Rangers team.

The pundit suggested that the winger gets plenty of opportunities on the ball but does not consistently turn possession into something productive.

He said:

“You look at the guys, supposedly creative players for Rangers.

“Like Minsu Kim, he’s £8.5million to £9m, I’m completely unconvinced by him.

“He gets on the ball a lot, doesn’t make a lot happen, things just break down around him.”

Those are strong words for a player who arrived at Ibrox with such a significant price tag.

Rangers supporters will naturally expect more from an expensive summer signing, particularly one brought in to improve the team’s attacking quality. Kim has yet to deliver a goal contribution in his nine Scottish Premiership appearances, and English believes his influence on matches has been underwhelming.

The contrast with Bouanani’s display against Aberdeen only made the criticism more noticeable. While the fellow summer arrival looked dangerous throughout the semi-final, Kim struggled to produce the same level of attacking quality.

Findlay Curtis Better Than Rangers’ £9m Signing?

Perhaps the most interesting part of English’s assessment was his suggestion that Curtis is currently offering more to the Rangers team than Kim.

The BBC journalist believes the young Scottish winger has been more productive whenever he gets onto the pitch, raising questions about whether McInnes should be giving him greater opportunities.

Sutton added:

“I think they need a lot more, to be honest. I think Findlay Curtis is a more productive player.

“Things happen when Curtis is on the pitch.”

That is a significant comparison considering the difference in experience and transfer investment between the two players.

Kim was brought to Rangers for a substantial fee, while Curtis is a product of the club’s Auchenhowie academy and represents one of the young talents the supporters will want to see develop.

Sutton’s argument is that Curtis is currently making more happen in attacking areas, despite receiving fewer minutes in the league.

What the Statistics Say About Kim and Curtis

The available Scottish Premiership numbers make the comparison particularly interesting.

Kim has made nine league appearances, accumulating 651 minutes, while Curtis has featured ten times but played only 429 minutes.

The South Korean averages 4.01 shots per 90 minutes, compared with Curtis’ 2.94. However, Curtis has the advantage when it comes to chances created, averaging 2.73 per 90 minutes against Kim’s 2.49.

There are also differences in their effectiveness when attempting to deliver crosses and take on defenders.

Curtis completes 25 per cent of his crosses, while Kim has a slightly higher success rate of 28 per cent.

However, the young Scotsman has been more successful with his dribbling, completing 62.5 per cent of his attempts compared with Kim’s 50 per cent.

The numbers do not suggest that Curtis is superior in every attacking category. Kim shoots more frequently and has a better crossing success rate, while Curtis has the advantage in chances created and successful dribbles.

Nevertheless, Sutton’s wider point concerns productivity rather than simply how often a player gets on the ball.

Derek McInnes Faces an Interesting Rangers Selection Decision

The comparison creates an interesting dilemma for McInnes.

Rangers invested heavily in Kim, and the club will understandably want to see that investment rewarded with consistent performances. It would be premature to write off a 20-year-old signing based on his early months at Ibrox, particularly when he is still adapting to a new environment.

At the same time, Curtis is offering competition from within the club, and his performances could make it increasingly difficult for the manager to overlook him.

Rangers needed additional attacking depth, and signing Kim provided another option for the wide positions. However, if Curtis continues to make a greater impact when selected, McInnes will have to consider whether the academy graduate deserves more regular opportunities.

For now, there is still plenty of time for Kim to justify his price tag and establish himself at Ibrox.

But English has made his position unmistakably clear. Rangers’ expensive summer signing has yet to convince him, and the growing comparison with Curtis is another challenge the South Korean will need to answer on the pitch.