Stoke City striker and former Man City youth talent Tyrese Campbell has been detailing just how close he came to signing for Rangers before penning a new deal at the Britannia.
Rangers were extensively linked with a move for now 22-year-old forward – who is the son of ex-Everton and Arsenal striker Kevin – in January 2020.
This was with Tyrese Campbell entering the final six months of his Stoke City contract, the striker having joined the Potters from Man City three years previously in a deal which eventually cost them £1.75m in compensation.
But despite clear interest from Rangers and Celtic, former Northern Irish boss Michael O’Neill convinced the striker to sign on the dotted line at Stoke City and the Gers were left disappointed.
Tyrese Campbell in Rangers Stoke City transfer claim
Now, in an interview with the Beautiful Game Podcast, Tyrese Campbell detailed how his Rangers move that was once “going to happen” never came to fruition.
“Yeah, there were a couple of points where a move was going to happen,” said Tyrese Campbell.
“This was only really when I wasn’t really playing at Stoke, before I signed my new deal. I was 19, turning 20 – I needed to play football.
“It was just one of those things where – nothing against the club or manager or players, anything like that – just me needing to play.
“It was literally just that but the manager at Stoke, Michael O’Neill sat me down at the time and said ‘what’s going on?’.
“I said I’ve got nothing against the club I just need to play. He said, ‘if I pick you, are you going to play?’ and I said yeah, of course. I’m not going to not play. I don’t want to leave. I’m happy here. Played those games over Christmas and then went from there.”
Tyrese Campbell would’ve surely been a fine signing for Rangers and could’ve followed on from the success of the club signing Joe Aribo (Charlton) and Calvin Bassey (Leicester City) on cross-border deals.
Meanwhile, some Rangers fans have had their dreams shattered by news coming out of the English Premier League.
