Rangers were dealt a blow when the Premier League millions of Aston Villa swooped in and poached generational striker talent Rory Wilson.
The teenage hitman had just fired in 40 goals for club and country at youth level and Rangers were eager to tie the striker’s future down back in the summer of 2022.
But with the lure of Premier League millions and a shot at the big time on the table, Rangers were powerless to resist as Rory Wilson eventually struck a deal with Aston Villa.
Compensated a meek £300k for Wilson’s development, it’s a familiar pain for Rangers fans who’d seen generational midfield talent Billy Gilmour poached by Chelsea years earlier.
But two years on from Wilson’s move down south, nerves are rising at Villa Park as the Premier League club prepare to get a taste of their own medicine.
Rory Wilson wanted by Bayer Leverkusen
According to BBC Sport, Aston Villa are locked in contract talks with Rory Wilson as they ’fight’ to tie the Scotland U21 international down to the club.
The 18-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and Villa have reportedly put a number of five-year contract offers on the table.
The Premier League side are eager to avoid Wilson – who is yet to make his top team debut – running down his contract to January where he can discuss terms with clubs outside of England.
Villa’s situation is further complicated by the fact that the Birmingham club would only be due €270k (£228k) in compensation if Wilson negotiated a move abroad.
Teams in England would have to pay agreed compensation to sign Wilson or risk going to a tribunal, similarly to the situation with Rangers, Aberdeen and Connor Barron.
It’s claimed that ‘several European sides’ are looking at Rory Wilson including Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.
The youthful German outfit are managed by ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso and would pose an exciting option for the young Scottish striker.
Aston Villa meanwhile – like many other sides in the Premier League – have sought to hoard young talents before selling them on for sizeable profits to rival teams.
Only this summer the Villa Park club raised a combined £25m from the sales of Omari Kellyman to Chelsea (£16m) and Tim Iroegbunam to Everton (£9m).
Rangers pledge to give youth a chance
Having been gutted to see Rory Wilson move to Aston Villa, there will be scant sympathy for the Premier League side from Ibrox should the ex-Rangers striker move on next summer.
The Gers face a big fight to keep their best young talents at the club with Adedire Mebude – who left for Manchester City – another example of the Premier League’s pull.
Rangers can however offer a more defined pathway to the first-team and have given opportunities to a number of young players in recent seasons.
Philippe Clement has prioritised bleeding young players with Ross McCausland, Robbie Fraser and Cole McKinnon all getting opportunities under the Belgian.
There are others in the Rangers squad on the verge of breaking through, with a lack of midfield options raising hopes that teenage talent Bailey Rice might get his chance this season.
England youth international duo Zak Lovelace and Archie Stevens also remain highly thought-of in the club’s revamped academy set-up.
Rangers also beat off Premier League competition to secure the futures of teenage talents Alexander Smith and Alfie Hutchison this summer.
