Rangers have missed out on a move for Charlton wide man Alfie Doughty after he snubbed Steven Gerrard’s side to sign for Stoke City.
Reports had claimed that both Rangers and Celtic had offered the 21-year-old left-back-turned-left-winger a pre-contract deal with his Charlton contract expiring in the summer [Glasgow Times].
But Doughty has instead opted for a January move to the Britannia for a reported £650k fee as the in-demand player makes a decision on his future [Scottish Sun].
Doughty – who is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury – was also said to be interesting Premier League promotion hopefuls Bournemouth and Championship side QPR.
Doughty explained why he chose Stoke City to the club’s media.
“When I think Stoke I think Premier League,” explains Doughty [Stoke].
“That was really the first thing that kind of entered my head.
“As soon as I thought that I thought ‘you know what, I’ll do my bit in the team and hopefully I’ll be in the squad to take them back to the Premier League.”
Doughty becomes Stoke’s fourth signing of the January window following the loan signings of Jack Clarke, Rhys Norrington-Davies and Rabbi Matondo.
The pacey wide player will now be hoping to regain his fitness and join a Stoke side who had Premier League ambitions in the first half of the season but who only have one win in 10 games.
They lost 2-1 to Watford on Friday evening to leave them in 8th – two places off the playoffs – with 20 games to go.
Doughty isn’t the only pre-contract talent being linked with Rangers down south either – the Gers have also been linked with a move for an out-of-contract pair at a Championship club.