Rangers will make contract decision on McPake this summer as interested parties circle – report
A decision over the future of Rangers starlet Josh McPake is likely to be made this summer with one year remaining on his current deal, according to The Athletic.
McPake is currently on loan at League Two side Harrogate Town after spending the first half of the season with Greenock Morton.
The 19-year-old has impressed while south of the border with the winger picking up two goals in his 16 total outings for The Sulphurites.
The Athletic also claim there will be ‘plenty of interest’ in the youngster once he returns to Ibrox in the summer and perhaps this interest will force the Gers’ hand.
The club will have to decide if they want to offer McPake a new deal or whether they want to sell him if they think he can’t make the jump into Steven Gerrard’s side.
One thing that the club will be looking to avoid is another Billy Gilmour situation as if McPake leaves and goes on to drastically improve then the decision-makers at Ibrox will be questioned again.
Nathan Patterson is a shining example of what keeping talented youngsters at the club can do after his breakthrough season.
Covid protocol breaking to one side, it has been a stunning season for Patterson and many Gers fans are thrilled with his emergence as a first-team player and potential James Tavernier replacement.
Many at Ibrox will be hoping that McPake can have similar success but it is always hard to tell if a player will reach their potential or not.
McPake is clearly talented but he is currently plying his trade in the fourth tier of English football, he would have to improve considerably to be in with a first-team shout.
A new deal and another loan spell next season could be the right move from the club if they want to assess McPake further.
However, a decent bid from an interested party may change their thinking.
In other Rangers news, a second allegation of racism from the game between Rangers and Slavia has emerged.