Exclusive: Pundit surprised by deadline-busting Rangers deal, admits hijack was possible
We’re delighted to welcome former Rangers manager Alex McLeish as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Ibrox…
Alex McLeish has admitted his surprise at Rangers signing Scott Wright permanently from Aberdeen on transfer deadline day.
The Bears had agreed to a pre-contract with the attacker but decided to fast-track that move from Pittodrie on Monday evening.
McLeish has suggested that an outside competitor could have been looking to hijack the move, something that could have pushed Rangers to act quickly.
Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News, McLeish said, “A little bit, yeah.
“Maybe there were other reasons, possibly, there could have been an English team who were showing interest in him.
“I’m sure that Rangers, they’ve obviously proven with all their recruitment that the resources are good, the directors have really backed Steve.
“To do this when the league is practically won, then I think it shows a lot about their ambition – it looks to me as if there was a competitor.”
Wright had signed a pre-contract at Ibrox, so it was highly unlikely that there was an outsider from England trying to jump in on deadline.
It would have taken huge money to take him away from the Bears, and the agreement in place between club and player may have made it impossible for others to do so.
The 23-year-old was on the bench in the 1-0 win against St Johnstone on Wednesday and will be looking to make an impact against Hamilton this weekend.
Gerrard is already building towards the future, and the signings of Wright and Simpson being brought forward will benefit the squad hugely.
In other Rangers news, John Barnes shares why Celtic may have folded behind Bears