Ordinarily, Alexander Smith would be a young player already well out of Rangers’ reach.
The Scotland U16s midfielder is yet to sign his first deal in professional football but with MLS and Premier League eyes on the kid, by now Rangers could’ve been blown out the water.
But according to one leading American journalist, Alexander Smith is closing in on a move to Rangers despite transfer interest from the likes of Premier League hopefuls Arsenal.
In similar scenarios, Rangers have been unable to compete with Premier League interest in the likes of Billy Gilmour (Chelsea) and Rory Wilson (Aston Villa).
It comes with the young playmaker – who is eligible for the USA despite being capped up to U16 level by Scotland – set to celebrate his 16th birthday.
Whilst nothing is signed, sealed, and delivered just yet, given the substantial reported interest in the player it’s a situation Ibrox fans would chalk up as a win should a deal be completed.
Rangers pipping Premier League clubs to Smith
Tom Bogert is a name some Rangers fans will be familiar with given the club’s transfer dealings in recent seasons.
The Athletic journalist was right on top of Rangers’ January 2022 interest in NYCFC midfielder James Sands and was the first to break the club’s interest in Jose Cifuentes this summer.
Speaking well ahead of a deal being completed, Bogert had a strong inside track on a deal for the then LAFC midfielder coming to Ibrox.
It’s just a shame he’s since been farmed out to Cruzeiro.
Now, Bogert has been back on Twitter claiming that Rangers are the club leading the pack for Alexander Smith as teams in the Premier League and MLS sniff around.
The journalist directly mentions Arsenal as being one of the names linked to the signing of Alexander Smith.
Can Scotland U16s star break Rangers Academy mould?
Should Rangers get a deal for Alexander Smith over the line, it will almost certainly be viewed as a coup by the Ibrox side.
But the club need to start getting these youngsters more consistently into the team when they sign on at Ibrox.
Whilst several players have been handed their debuts in recent seasons, Northern Irish winger Ross McCausland is the only youth player who has been consistently involved in 23/24.
Injuries have kept Zak Lovelace out of the side, whilst much-hyped midfielder Bailey Rice is yet to really play, Cole McKinnon had brief involvement, and Leon King hasn’t kicked a ball.
With Alex Lowry returning from injury, and Adam Devine returning on loan from Motherwell in the summer, this could yet change heading into next season.
But whilst beating Premier League transfer opposition to bolster the Academy has to be viewed as a good thing, Alexander Smith’s success will be judged via exposure to the Rangers first-team.
