Rangers face an increasing task to keep their best young talent at the club amid swirling interest from the top Premier League academies.
The Gers might be able to offer would-be young talents the best facilities in Scotland but the lure of Premier League football and game’s best players has often proven too strong.
Not to mention the difference in finances on offer south of the border.
Now, one former Rangers academy talent who was lured by the bright lights of Manchester City has been giving his two cents on the move and why it was a ‘no-brainer’.
Dire Mebude: ‘Man City move a no-brainier’
Dire Mebude came through the youth ranks at Rangers alongside brother Dapo.
But whilst Dapo Mebude would make his first-team debut at Ibrox, Dire’s talent caught the eye of Manchester City when the forward was just 16-years-old.
Rangers have gotten used to this over the last few years.
Billy Gilmour kicked off the trend when he moved to Chelsea, with the likes of Rory Wilson also heading to Aston Villa despite coming through at Ibrox.
Speaking about the move, Mebude has no regrets and explains that the ‘best club in the world’ and the ‘best players’ don’t come knocking every day.
“It came as quite a shock when I heard they were interested in me,” Mebude told the Herald.
“But when I heard that they wanted to sign me, it was like a no-brainer at that point to be honest. I just couldn’t hold my excitement, I just wanted to get there as soon as possible.
“You obviously know it’s going to be tough to eventually make your way to the first team, but for me, it’s the best club in the world.
“It’s not just about the first team, it’s about developing yourself as a player really. They’ve got the best facilities and the best players. It’s good to be a part of when you’re young and trying to develop yourself.
“I was just amazed when I walked in there on my first day. Rangers have a great facility as well, don’t get me wrong, and there are great coaches there too. But Manchester City is one of the best places you can be. I was just happy to get it done really.”
Ex-Rangers youth tips more Premier League deals
Dire Mebude spent three years in the Manchester City academy and was even named the players’ player of the year in 2021.
But the Scotland U21 international forward didn’t make a top team appearance at the Etihad despite working with the Man City first-team and manager Pep Guardiola.
Eventually moving to Westerlo in a £1.65m deal in 2023 – Rangers banking around 15% of the transfer due to a sell-on clause (£247.5k) – it’s been an adjustment for the attacker in Belgium.
Coming back to England in the second half of last season, Mebude has spoken candidly about his challenging experience in the Pro League.
“When I went out to Belgium, you’re just on your own,” said Dire. “It’s you against the world really.”
But the ex-Rangers academy talent has also been speaking about the impact of Premier League clubs poaching the best young Scottish talent.
And far from believe it will have a negative impact on Scottish football, Mebude reckons the positives are such that the national team stand to benefit as these transfers become more ‘normalised’.
“As more Scottish players make the big jump, the talent and abilities only go higher,” said Mebude.
“It’s one of those things where as more people do it, it will become more normalised. Definitely, it will benefit everyone in the long run.
“I have known all these guys in the under-21 squad for years coming through with them, and it’s great to see so many of them make that jump.
“You can see an improvement in them for it, definitely, and that’s only going to benefit Scotland in the long run.”
Rangers really are up against it with Scotland’s top talents going forward but it doesn’t exactly help the club’s case when the likes of Bailey Rice are stuck on the bench.
