Dion McGhee takes a corner while playing for former Manchester United under-23 side during a Premier League 2 match against Sunderland at Old Trafford in November last year. (Getty Images)
According to Daily Record, former Manchester United midfielder Dion McGhee is under the radar of Scottish side Rangers.
The 19-year-old left Manchester United earlier this week, after having joined them as a six-year-old. Teenager McGhee made nine appearances for United’s under-23 squad this season in the Premier League 2 before coronavirus stopped play.
An attacking midfielder by trade, McGhee’s versatility has seen him play mostly as a right-winger and a left-back for United’s reserve them this season. However, he has never featured for their senior side, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side already filled with enough talents across all positions.
He was also in the same FA Youth Cup squad as Mason Greenwood and James Garner, who have now made a breakthrough into United’s main team. With the versatile midfielder now out of contract, Steven Gerrard’s Rangers have shown an interest to sign him.
Rangers, meanwhile, have witnessed young academy talents from England like Ryan Kent establishing themselves as key members in the side this season. The 23-year-old Kent, a product of Liverpool’s academy, arrived just last summer and has excelled for the Scottish side with 7 goals from 21 league appearances.
He is the side’s third top-scorer in the league behind veteran Jermain Defoe (13) and star striker Alfredo Morelos (12). The same has been the case with another Liverpool academy player, Sheyi Ojo, who joined them on loan earlier in the summer.
The 23-year-old Ojo stood out with one goal and five assists from just 19 league matches before returning to his parent club last month.
With young academy graduates from abroad displaying a clear show of their potential, it is not a big surprise Gerrard’s side have now shown an interest in McGhee. Moreover, McGhee’s versatility makes him an alluring prospect for Rangers, who just have one left-back in Borna Barisic.
The 27-year-old clearly remains Rangers’ obvious first-choice man, having impressed with two goals and eight assists from 22 Premiership appearances this season. McGhee’s arrival will also offer Gerrard more options next season.
Kent and Ojo are examples that Rangers should invest more in youth and McGhee could similarly prove to be an excellent signing for the future. Moreover, he offers Gerrard’s side a cheaper alternative compared to many other established stars. Also, he is still young and can develop even further under the guidance of the Rangers boss.
