Leo Castledine is the latest name to be linked to Rangers.
The Chelsea Academy kid is only closing in on his 19th birthday but has already played for the Blues first team, coming off the bench in an EFL Cup win over Middlesbrough in January.
An attacking midfielder of whom big things are expected of at Chelsea, Rangers have been linked with a Leon Casteldine loan swoop this week.
But the switch is complicated by some conflicting reports around potential interest from Scottish Premiership rivals Aberdeen.
Aberdeen ‘not in’ for Castledine
The story goes that Rangers are interested in signing Chelsea youngster Leo Castledine on a loan-to-buy this summer.
The ‘sticking point’ to any transfer concerns the fact the Premier League giants would rather send the teenager out on a straight loan deal.
But any Rangers interest in Castledine was further complicated by reports that Aberdeen also want to sign the youngster on loan.
With Football Scotland the source of both links, a leading Reach journalist has shot down suggestions Leo Castledine could move to Aberdeen.
Daily Record journalist Scott Burns has taken to social media platform X to claim that the Dons ‘are not in’ for the Chelsea talent.
With English Championship clubs also said to be in the hunt, these claims theoretically knock Aberdeen out of the race.
Rangers explore Premier League loans
Rangers have regularly used the English Premier League loan market over the years.
Only this week did ex-Gers assistant Gary McAllister reveal that Steven Gerrard tried to take Curtis Jones to Rangers a few years ago.
The Anfield legend did bring the likes of Ovie Ejaria, Ryan Kent and Sheyi Ojo to Rangers from Anfield, whilst Abdallah Sima joined the club from Brighton last season.
Leo Castledine certainly looks to be highly-rated by the Chelsea Academy and given financial constraints this summer a loan transfer switch could benefit all parties.
But it’s interesting that Rangers are trying to retain an option-to-buy as the club moves towards a more productive player trading model.
