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Rangers snubbed despite meeting with Hearts talent James Wilson as first-team view emerges amid Celtic push
Rangers had met with James Wilson before the teenager signed a new deal at Hearts last week, according to the Daily Mail.
The 16-year-old forward agreed a new two-year deal to remain with the Jambos last Friday (28 April) in the face of heavy interest from both the Light Blues and Glasgow rivals Celtic, plus clubs in England.
Leeds United and Aston Villa were thought to be the most likely destinations, but the likes of Brighton and Manchester United were also in the race.
It was previously reported that Rangers sent letters to signal their intent to bring the youngster to Ibrox, and he had been permission to speak to other clubs.
The Daily Mail report in the Transfer Confidential this week that he did indeed meet with the Light Blues, but it was a stronger pathway to the first team that convinced him to forego all suitors and remain in Edinburgh.
Shame
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Clearly Wilson is very highly-rated to have a list of clubs after him as long as he did, but it is some achievement from Hearts to keep hold of him in the face of that interest.
Striker is turning into a problem position at Ibrox with Alfredo Morelos somehow still the regular starter despite long having been expected to exit this summer.
Antonio Colak started the season well but has suffered injury issues since and doesn’t seem to suit what Michael Beale is trying to do.
Kemar Roofe’s own injury problems seem to be never ending while Fashion Sakala can be inconsistent, so at the moment there would seem to be a pathway into the Gers first team.
Clearly the rebuild that Beale has promised is not set to hand a key role to a teenage forward right now, but it would have been reassuring to have a key talent coming through.
The powers of persuasion on either side of Glasgow were not enough to capture a sought-after youngster from within the SPFL, but with the riches of the English Premier League also not enough perhaps nobody had a real chance despite a move appearing likely.
In other Rangers news, a Sky Sports pundit has dropped a scathing verdict on a presumed £5million piece of Gers business.