Report: Striker personally informs Rangers he won’t be joining them
Rangers transfer target Tyrese Campbell phoned them personally to inform them that he won’t be joining them from Championship side Stoke City, according to the Daily Record.
The newspaper claims that the 20-year-old was being eyed by both Gers and their Old Firm rivals Celtic, but on Friday he officially signed a new contract with the Potters.
On Thursday, the youngster is said to have made personal calls to both Glasgow giants to thank them for their interest and inform them of his decision.
His contract at the Britannia Stadium was set to expire at the end of the season, allowing teams north of the border to sign him for a mere £400,000 compensation fee.
The Ibrox outfit are thought to have made a proper pitch to the striker and put in a real effort to turn his head in recent days, but to no effect.
Campbell, the son of former Arsenal and Everton star Kevin, has elected to remain playing in England.
How much of a blow is this to Rangers?
It’s not good, make no mistake about that. Campbell would have been a great addition; an insurance policy against the ageing of Jermain Defoe and the inevitable eventual exit of Alfredo Morelos.
Campbell’s got five goals and one assist for Stoke this season despite only playing 673 minutes of football. That works out as a goal involvement every 112 minutes. Not too bad for a 20-year-old, eh?
Still, this isn’t Lionel Messi Gers have missed out on. They’ll be just fine. Campbell would’ve been a nice piece to add to Steven Gerrard’s collection, but he made his decision and the club has to accept that. Plus, he did everything respectfully, so credit to him for that.
In other Rangers news, a former Celtic great has claimed that Gerrard has probably told one Rangers star he can leave in the summer.