Rangers have gotten used to battling English clubs for the best young talent on British shores.
The Gers have been able to tempt a number of future stars north of the border with the promise of a fast-track to the first team enough to sell the Ibrox dream.
But at the same time other players have been poached by the megabucks Premier League or their early success in Glasgow has turned heads down south.
The ideal scenario for Rangers is that these youngsters make the grade in Govan before banking the Gers big bucks on a move down south.
But as a leading English Championship side join the ranks of clubs monitoring one of the Ibrox side’s brightest young talents, Rangers are already being linked to an alternative swoop.
Rangers talent Stevens wanted in England
England youth international Archie Stevens is widely regarded as one of the biggest prospects at Rangers.
The now 18-year-old joined the Ibrox side in the summer of 2022 after coming through the youth ranks at AFC Wimbledon.
Almost immediately the fresh-faced 16-year-old was handed a first-team debut in the League Cup win over Queen of the South in August that year.
Rangers have had to contend with substantial interest in the forward pretty much ever since he walked through the academy door in Glasgow.
An England U17s World Cup star, there were six-figure links to Premier League Brighton in January whilst Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Fulham were mentioned in March.
Now, Rangers face fresh Archie Stevens interest with English Championship side Leeds United also said to be ‘monitoring’ the winger.
Leeds Live also mention interest from Manchester United and West Ham as Stevens enters the final year of his contract at Rangers.
It is however claimed that the Elland Road side don’t view Stevens as a direct replacement for Crysencio Summerville or Jack Harrison, despite both players being likely to depart this window.
Rangers turn attentions to Matthews
As the big wheel turns at Rangers, the clubs aren’t resting on their laurels either.
The future of Archie Stevens might be up in the air but Rangers are already being linked to another English youngster making waves down south.
According to the Secret Scout, Rangers are one of a number of clubs watching Middlesbrough youth talent Ajay Matthews.
With Old Firm rivals Celtic also mentioned alongside four Premier League clubs, competition is reportedly fierce for a young striker who netted 16 goals for the youth team at the Riverside last season.
Whilst for the time being we’ll take these claims with a pinch of salt, big changes could be in the offing at the Rangers academy this summer.
With the B Team out of the Lowland League and Philippe Clement pledging to use more young players, the future looks bright for young players coming through at Ibrox.
