Tony weston made his senior debut against Maidstone United in the FA Cup (Getty Images)
According to Daily Record, Rangers are close to securing a deal for Blackpool wonderkid Tony Weston ahead of the summer transfer window.
Having come through the ranks of Blackpool’s youth system, Weston is yet to agree on a professional contract with the Seasiders. As he is just 16, the rules in England don’t allow anyone below 17 years to sign a professional deal. Thus, Rangers should jump to secure his services at the earliest.
The teenager has already made his senior debut with Blackpool when he came on as a substitute in the 3-1 win against Maidstone United in the second round of the FA Cup. He has been impressive with the youth teams and has also attracted interest from several top-flight clubs including Everton, Southampton and Leeds United, as per the report.
Alfredo Morelos and Jermaine Defoe were the two main centre-forwards for Rangers this season. Both of them were brilliant, scoring 25 of the team’s 64 goals in the league this term. And Greg Stewart also played a small role, scoring 3 goals and providing 3 assists in 16 league games.
However, Defoe was on loan and has returned to Bournemouth after the league season ended. And Morelos has been constantly linked with a move away from Ibrox. 30-year-old Stewart also has just one year left on his contract with the club and is also reaching the prime of his career. Thus, Rangers should bring in young strikers with a view for the future.
In that regard, signing Weston would be a good move. The teenager was impressive with Blackpool’s youth squad at the start of last season, scoring 14 goals before he was promoted to the senior set up. He is highly regarded and could be used in the Gers’ youth squads under the right guidance. And if he is able to develop himself, he could be a future star in their attack.
It is clear that Rangers lack depth in the centre-forward position after the departure of Defoe. Hence, investing in Weston would be a wise move. And this could help them reap a reward in the future. Thus, they should manage to lure the wonderkid to Ibrox as early as possible.
