Clubs on ‘red alert’ over cut-price Ross McCausland exit amid ongoing contract talks after ‘dramatic’ advances
The potential opportunity to pluck Ross McCausland from Rangers on a cut-price £350,000 compensation deal has clubs on “red alert”, according to the Daily Record.
The outlet reported via their website on 21 November that the 20-year-old’s ongoing contract talks are now a “priority” at Ibrox but those interested in signing him are eagerly awaiting a possible opening with current deal is set to expire at the end of the season.
The Northern Irishman made his first start for the club in the 2-0 win at Livingston prior to the international break and made then won his first senior cap, constituting a “dramatic rise in recent weeks”.
Interest had previously been reported from the Premier League to the south and across Europe, with named suitors now emerging as Brentford, Atalanta and Jose Mourinho’s Roma.
No surprise
For a player with the talent that McCausland appears to have to be available for so little it is likely that there will be far more teams than those so far reported with their eyes on developments in Glasgow.
Rangers better wrap up a contract extension sooner rather than later otherwise they will be caught in a catch-22 situation of wanting him to have a positive impact on the pitch but potentially seeing talks get tougher every time he does.
His agent will no-doubt be increasingly aware of what options are out there for the winger and despite his own allegiances to the club giing them an obvious head start it has already reached the point where he is within touching distance of being able to sign a pre-contract elsewhere in January.
With the likes of Scott Wright and Rabbi Matondo unable to stay fit this season McCausland has been afforded increasing opportunities, by Steven Davis and now Philippe Clement at least, and has repaid the club by displaying strong development already.
But that clearly hasn’t gone unnoticed elsewhere and his obvious potential will have clubs outside of Scotland counting down the days to the New Year.
The probable likeliest outcome is that Rangers do announce a new deal before then but they are already cutting it pretty fine if it is on the way.
In other Rangers news, a journalist has suggested “pretty serious alarm bells” may now be ringing at Ibrox over recent news.