Exactly this. He's too much of an expensive asset to leave as second choice post Jan. Personally I don't see any amazing talent in the lad as a defender though I appreciate that's a matter of opinion others hold differently. Clearly he has something about him going forward but the question is that balance enough for a top player.
If he's not first choice in Jan then he needs to go on loan. Then he either comes back as a starter or he's flogged for a few million.
Ah - are you the uncle then?
My opinion on the lad has nothing to do with his Rangers background. Like it was the other way when I loved the likes of Davey Weir and Richard Gough.