Earlier this week, the Express reported that Rangers are competing with multiple Premier League teams, including Chelsea and Southampton, for Charlie Allen.
The 15-year-old forward is very highly rated in Northern Ireland and has been tipped to make a big move away from Irish Premiership champions Linfield at the end of the season.
Remarkably, despite his age, he already has senior experience for the Belfast club.
He made his competitive debut against Coleraine in April last season and earned a second appearance on Tuesday evening, in a County Antrim Shield clash against Cliftonville.
It wasn’t just a late, inconsequential cameo, either.
Both clubs named strong starting XIs, but with the Blues 2-0 down with just 15 minutes remaining, Allen and fellow 15-year-old Dale Taylor were given a chance to show what they could do.
Taylor scored with an effort from outside the area before Kirk Miller equalised for the hosts and sent the Windsor Park tie to extra-time.
With the sides unable to be separated after the additional 30 minutes, the game went to spot-kicks. Remarkably, Taylor and Allen were Linfield’s first two penalty takers.
Taylor saw his saved, but Ibrox-linked Allen showed incredible composure for such a young player and slotted his cooly home.
Cliftonville would go on to win the shootout, but Allen impressed during his time on the field and it’s easy to see why so many big guns are chasing him.
After the game, Linfield’s official Instagram account gave both Allen and Taylor shoutouts for ‘exceptional performances’, and it wouldn’t be a major surprise if the youngster was to be involved again during the remainder of the campaign.
Manager, David Healy, should probably look to make use of his abilities before he inevitably heads across the water.
Can Rangers overcome the lure of the Premier League and bring Allen to Glasgow?
