Promising Rangers striker Dapo Mebude could leave Ibrox at the end of the season with his contract soon set to expire.
Mebude was regarded as one of the most promising players in the Academy when Steven Gerrard arrived at Ibrox and the Gers boss handed him a senior debut in the final fixture of the 2018/19 Premiership season against Kilmarnock.
The pacy attacker replaced Daniel Candeias and played the final 27 minutes at Rugby Park, but he hasn’t featured since.
Mebude was a key player for Rangers’ U20s and Colts sides last season, but while Nathan Patterson has since been permanently promoted to the first team, he remained with the B team over the first half of the current campaign.
The Scotland youth international left Ibrox on loan in January, joining Championship club Queen of the South until the end of the season.
Loan moves for Academy players are commonplace as a way for them to build up experience in competitive senior football.
However, in many cases, those involved sign contract extensions before heading out of Ibrox. Kai Kennedy and Ben Williamson both signed new deals in January before completing moves to the second tier of the SPFL.
There was no such announcement regarding Mebude prior to his loan switch, though, and his contract expires at the end of the season.
Loan manager Billy Kirkwood will be monitoring the 19-year-old and if he really impresses at Palmerston Park, there’s still a chance that an extension could be offered.
However, at this stage, it looks more likely that Dapo will follow in the footsteps of his younger brother Dire, who joined Manchester City in the summer, by leaving Rangers.
Mebude was one of three Gers loanees who featured for Queen of the South in a damaging defeat on Saturday afternoon.