The Rumour Mill

Blues eye Rangers teen

29/08/2012 |

Comments (14)

Everton are being linked with Rangers teenage prospect, Barrie McKay, whose contract is set to expire in May.

The 17-year-old earned rave reviews from boss Ally McCoist in the Ibrox club's 5-1 win over East Stirling and if he doesn't sign an extension to his current deal, he will be able to sign a pre-contract deal with another club in January.

Original Source: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/342644 Rumour source ranking:
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Reader Comments

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Harry Wallace
939 Posted 29/08/2012 at 07:20:29

Is this kid any good then?

Tony Pickering
958 Posted 29/08/2012 at 09:59:07

No idea if it true of course, but it seems to me that it could be rather good - Rangers stole Steven & Stevens off us when we couldn't get into Europe, (did they also get McAll?) so we grab Jelavic, Naismith and maybe this lad whilst they can't get into Europe.

Karma?

Jamie Sweet
959 Posted 29/08/2012 at 09:59:56

We're also said to have bid 250k for 17 year old Kilmarnock forward named Kennedy.

Kase Chow
985 Posted 29/08/2012 at 13:36:21

Strange we're going for so many Scottish players: they don't tend to do great in the EPL. I can only think of Fletcher of Wolves (now Sunderland) & Fletcher of Man U who have done well of late?

Hopefully Naismith flouishes + anyone else we buy...

Phil Davies
990 Posted 29/08/2012 at 14:02:42

It seems as though Moyes is determined to sign a young striker, this will be three 17 year old's we've been linked with this summer, would it not be better to see the likes of Hope and Mcaleny given a chance instead.

Trevor Lynes
993 Posted 29/08/2012 at 14:11:47

Scotland at the moment has no 'real' star players and that is why a lot of second rate players from England go to play there. Let's face it, Weir and Naysmith were well past their sell-by date for the English Premier League but continued to play for top clubs in the Scottish Premier League.

I am very skeptical of Scots coming to play for us and it smacks of jobs for the boys. DM seems to like to have lots of his countrymen around him. If they are really good enough then it's OK but we tend to look in football backwaters eg; Scotland and Belgium and hope that they cut it with us.

We must have a bad bunch of youngsters on the books if we are looking to Scotland for recruits.

Bertie Alloff
995 Posted 29/08/2012 at 14:25:20

Maybe he doesn't think they're up to it Phil, although I thought McAleny was worth a go when I've seen him play.

Michael Kenrick
Editorial Team
997 Posted 29/08/2012 at 14:33:05

It seems Connor McAleny may currently be out with a knee injury.

Aiden Doyle
999 Posted 29/08/2012 at 14:48:59

Wow. Describing a squad that currently features the likes of Kompany, Mignolet, Hazard, Defour, van Buyten, Vermaelen, Dembele, Lukaku and our two Belgians as a footballing backwater is more than a little harsh.

Si Cooper
005 Posted 29/08/2012 at 14:48:57

Trevor (#993), it is because these places are 'backwaters', as you put it (personally expect the Belgian national side will outshine the English over the next few years), that we have a chance of picking up a talented player on the cheap.

Scottish football has certainly suffered from the 'Old Firm' dominance and their willingness to import in an attempt to compete in Europe, but plenty of talented players have come from there and it is presumptuous to write-off any prospects without having seen them.

Whilst waiting for our benefactor, youthfulness and obscurity are useful to us in the transfer market. We just need some of the gambles to pay off.

The current under 21's need bolstering anyway. McAleny only got a one year contract in June 2011, and the club didn't rush to give him a new one when it expired this year (and no-one stepped in to take him away). Unfortunately, I think that says a lot about how highly he is rated at the moment.

Si Cooper
018 Posted 29/08/2012 at 15:34:42

Perhaps losing out on Niang has shifted our priorities. Instead of a wedge of cash for purchasing a winger / attacking player and possible loans for general squad strengthening, maybe it will now be small amounts for potential (McKay and Kennedy) and a larger amount for another player elsewhere.

I see that Stephane Mbia is currently looking to move to the EPL (Stoke and QPR known to have interest, though Sky said Stoke and an unnamed club had lodged bids today) . A 26 year-old defensive midfielder who can also play at centre-back that we were after a few years ago. Unless he really pissed us off or has gone downhill in a big way he may be worth a shout (could we be the un-named club?) with some of the Rodwell money.

Would be cover or potential starter with Gibson, allowing Fellaini to stay in advanced role.

Trevor Lynes
161 Posted 30/08/2012 at 09:12:42

Scottish players in the past were very good and in some cases great. Not now I'm afraid!

The fact is, many players who are no longer wanted in the English Premier League can go there and play if they feel like. The standard in Scotland is very poor compared to what it was years ago.

I agree that Belgium has produced much better players recently and I think you are right about that particular country. But, I stand by my comments about Scottish football and apart from Celtic no other club would be able to cut it in our top two divisions.

I'm not insulting a country that has produced great players including Collins, Young, Gabriel, Alex Parker etc etc. But unfortunately with their present set-up I don't see the talent emerging like it once did.

I cannot believe that youngsters from over there are any better than those in England. I blame our lack of decent scouts!!

Anto Byrne
277 Posted 30/08/2012 at 15:30:26

Name a fish starting with K and ending with K:

Kilmarnock — it's a plaice in Scotland.

Al Reddish
337 Posted 30/08/2012 at 18:20:16

Maybe Moyes wants to give our young forwards more first team time and replace them in the reserves with the 17 year olds mentioned.

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