Why Rangers should sign Luke Ayling instead of Mahlon Romeo

According to the Scottish Daily Record, Rangers are tracking Millwall right-back Mahlon Romeo, with Premier League outfit West Ham also keeping tabs on the 23-year-old who has impressed in the Championship this season.

The same report claims that the Gers want Romeo to provide cover and competition for James Tavernier or as a replacement if they choose to cash in on their club-captain next summer.

Mahlon Romeo has been one of the few shining lights of Millwall’s disappointing campaign in the Championship this term, with the right-back featuring consistently in the first-team and making a name for himself with his game-reading ability and composure.

The 23-year-old Antigua and Barbuda international started his career in the youth ranks of Arsenal before joining Gillingham from where he moved on to Millwall in 2015. Since then, Romeo has accumulated a total of 124 appearances for the Lions across all competitions and played a key role in their promotion to the Championship from League One.

Romeo has done well in the Championship this season and he deserves all the credit in the world for his performances for a struggling Millwall unit. He has spent three seasons playing for the Lions in the Championship and League One but Rangers should take note of the fact that he is still inexperienced at the highest level. Romeo’s links with West Ham might be considered as a benchmark of his talent but Rangers should look elsewhere in a bid to add more depth to their defensive options.

To put things into perspective, Rangers should make a move for Leeds United right-back Luke Ayling, who is more experienced and highly-rated as compared to Mahlon Romeo. Ayling has once again been one of the mainstays of the Peacocks’ backline under Marcelo Bielsa this season, helping the Yorkshire club to second in the Championship standings. The Englishman has racked up a mammoth 382 competitive appearances for the likes of Leeds, Yeovil Town and Bristol City.

Just like Romeo, Ayling rose through the youth ranks at Arsenal but he played for Yeovil Town and Bristol City before making his move to Elland Road. The 27-year-old played a pivotal role in the promotion-winning campaigns of Bristol and Yeovil in League One and has established himself as one of the best full-backs in the Championship over the years.

Calm and composed at the back with good game-reading and tackling ability, Ayling knows how to use the ball well and excels with his passing and link up play down the flanks. To add to that, he is also a good dribbler and fancies a trick or two to outsmart the opposition.

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Suffice to say, an accomplished full-back like Luke Ayling would be a better choice for Rangers given that he has already shown enough promise in English football. Still only 27, Ayling has plenty of years remaining on his prime and the Gers can certainly benefit by getting their hands on him next summer.