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Rangers to sign Blaine McClure on three-year contract this weekend with double signing close
Rangers are set to sign Linfield academy duo Blaine McClure and Callum Burnside, according to BelfastLive.
The Northern Irish news outlet reported on 8 March that McClure, 16, is due to sign a three-year deal at Ibrox this weekend after impressing in a number of trials at the Glasgow club.
It is understood that he’s joining fellow Linfield sensation Burnside at Rangers.
McClure’s father Colin has confirmed the move in an interview with BelfastLive. He said: “Blaine has just turned 16 and has been on trial with a number of clubs in England. And then Rangers picked up on him/
“He has also been living away from home with the Club NI academy, and now he is preparing to sign for Rangers. It is brilliant for Blaine and Linfield, and we are all extremely proud.
“Rangers have always had tabs on Blaine. They are a massive club and they have treated Blaine and our family so well throughout everything. They have made us feel like we’re part of the Rangers family.”
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New arrivals
Welcome to Ibrox, lads.
It’ll no doubt be a big step up to join Rangers, even at academy level, for McClure and Burnside.
However, both of the youngsters have had numerous trials at Auchenhowie, which will no doubt make the bedding-in period a lot easier for them.
While they’re hardly jet-setting around the world to complete this move, it must be difficult to move across the North Channel from Belfast to Glasgow at such a young age.
Rangers have had plenty of Northern Irish youngsters over the years so they know how to deal with it while McClure’s father Colin seems to be well on board with the idea of his son representing the famous Light Blues.
Rangers’ youth recruitment is usually great but we haven’t seen too many youngsters making the grade at Ibrox lately, unfortunately.
Sure, Nathan Patterson is an example of someone who’s risen through the ranks recently but it’s all gone a bit quiet since Alex Lowry’s injuries hampered his progress.
Let’s hope one of these new lads is soon pushing for a senior spot.
In other Rangers news, a pundit with insider information at Ibrox has shared one condition that will make Douglas Park leave Ibrox.