Rangers Exclusive: Losing McKinnon would be ‘nightmare’, Alex Bruce makes Gilmour comparison
We’re delighted to welcome former Scottish Premiership defender Alex Bruce as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Rangers…
Alex Bruce has claimed that Rangers would face a “nightmare” if they had another Billy Gilmour situation on their hands with academy starlet Cole McKinnon.
Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News, the former Kilmarnock defender suggested that the last thing the Gers need right now is to be relinquishing their best young talent for minimal fees.
Gilmour left his boyhood club in 2017 to sign for Premier League bigwigs Chelsea, with Rangers receiving a little over £500,000 for the player.
The Gers could be facing a repeat situation, however, with Everton and Aston Villa both reportedly keen on 17-year-old, McKinnon.
And that could be a disaster for Steven Gerrard’s men, according to Bruce.
Speaking to Ibrox News, he said: “That’s one thing Rangers don’t want to do is lose him, especially when they’ve got tight pursestrings as it is after everything that’s gone on with the pandemic and everything like that.
“They don’t want to be losing their best assets from the academy. Another Billy Gilmour situation would be a nightmare.
“They’ll be looking, I’m sure, to keep a hold of their best young players because, again, they haven’t got a lot o money to spend.
“I’m sure Steven will be looking at the academy to see if there’s anybody who can come up and add something to the squad.”
McKinnon is yet to make his debut for the Gers’ senior setup, but is already capped at youth international level for Scotland.
Like Gilmour, the starlet is an impressive central midfield presence.
In other Rangers news, Ibrox View: Rangers could get 20/21 boost after transfer reports on rival striker.