Daniel Johnson has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Championship (Getty Images)
According to Daily Mirror (h/t Daily Record), Rangers have targeted 27-year-old Preston North End star Daniel Johnson to bolster their midfield.
The report suggests that Steven Gerrard is in the hunt for a midfielder and could try to land Johnson this summer. The Jamaican has entered the final year of his contract at Deepdale Stadium and would be a cheaper option for the Gers.
Born in Jamaica, Johnson flourished through the ranks of Aston Villa’s youth system but couldn’t break into the club’s senior set-up. He spent most of his Villa career on loan spells, having featured for clubs like Yeovil Town, Chesterfield FC and Oldham Athletic before joining Preston in January 2015.
Since then, he has grown into one of the best midfielders in the Championship and is one of the key members of the squad. He has been consistent and reliable in the last few years but has gone from strength to strength in the last 12 months.
After racking up 6 goals and 5 assists in the 2018/19 season, he took his game to the next level in the last campaign and managed to score 12 goals and 8 assists 33 league games. He has made 219 appearances for the Lilywhites to date.
At the moment, the Gers have four attack-minded midfielders in their ranks. Ryan Jack and Joe Aribo have been regular starters and they have done a decent job so far. Scott Arfield and Steven Davies have also done well whenever called upon.
However, Arfield and Davies are beyond 30 and reaching the twilight of their careers. And it is necessary for the Scottish giants to bring in a midfielder this summer to bolster their squad for the upcoming campaigns. Moreover, Aribo has also been injured and could miss a few key games for the Gers in the following weeks. Thus, they should consider signing a midfielder at the earliest.
In that regard, signing Johnson would do them a world of good. The Jamaican has been in sensational form over the last few years. He has been consistent and reliable in terms of productivity, which could be a boost for the Gers.
His inclusion would definitely bring healthy competition to Gerrard’s squad, whilst also adding some much-needed depth. The 27-year-old could be a replacement for Arfield or Davies, both of whom don’t have much to offer in the future. Johnson is also capable of operating in a No. 10 role and could be their creative head.
With Arfield and Davies ageing, it is clear that Rangers are in need of central midfielders. And Johnson perfectly fits the bill. He could also provide them with some much-needed extra goals from the middle of the park. Thus, making a move for the Jamaican would be a wise decision by the club.
