Norwich City midfielder Kieran Dowell will be the first signing of an exciting Rangers transfer window to be confirmed by the Ibrox club.
That’s according to leading Ibrox insider Four Lads Had a Dream, who are adamant the 25-year-old midfielder is the name alluded to by Michael Beale earlier in the week.
Tweeting ahead of the Scottish Premiership clash with Hearts, which will be Rangers’ final home game of the season, Four Lads claim that Kieran Dowell has signed on as part of the upcoming rebuild.
According to 4LHAD, Dowell “is the announcement Beale hinted about” as Rangers prepare to get their recruitment underway.
The Rangers manager had sent Ibrox voices chattering by suggesting one of the club’s early summer signings could be announced around the clash with Hearts at Ibrox.
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“The window doesn’t open just yet so we can’t announce anything but when it opens we’ll be ready to announce one or two,” said Beale.
“One might be announced on Wednesday at Ibrox so there’s another reason for people to maybe come along and see us in midweek.“
Kieran Dowell set to join Rangers
While some had mused over a potential permanent deal for Malik Tillman, it now appears it is Dowell who will be the first announced by Rangers and Beale.
Rangers have been extensively linked with a move for Dowell as his contract ticks down at Carrow Road.
After the Norwich sporting director confirmed the midfielder’s exit, the stage now appears to set for Rangers to go ahead and announce the signing ahead of the clash with Hearts.
Interestingly, Rangers were extensively linked with the 16-capped ex-England U21 international during his time at Everton, with Dowell reportedly a Rangers target under Steven Gerrard in 2019.
Beale was Ibrox assistant back then, so Dowell is clearly someone the Gers boss knows well, with former Canaries teammate turned Ibrox star Todd Cantwell also waxing lyrical about the midfielder’s ability.
“Yeah, he’s a good player,” said Cantwell. “He’s someone I enjoyed playing with, we had success at Norwich and he’s a top lad.
“None of that is really to do with me. It’s the manager’s choice, the club’s choice and his choice. If that is something that happens then I’m sure the Rangers fans will be happy.
“In terms of recruitment, it’s kind of irrelevant because you’ve a group of players in pre-season fighting to be in the starting eleven.
“We’ve got everything to play for next season and the hunger in the dressing room will be real. Whoever is there playing for Rangers, it’s important to know you’ll be fighting for your spot and to win every game.
“It’s important you weigh up your opportunities. I can only speak for myself but it was a massive decision but also one that I’m really proud of making. It’s not one that is common to come up here and show what I’m about.”
Coming through the youth ranks at Everton, seemingly Rangers-bound Dowell moved to Norwich in 2020 after a series of loan moves with Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United, Derby County and Wigan Athletic.
Playing briefly in the Premier League for the Toffees, the midfielder made 75 appearances in total for Norwich, scoring 12 goals and laying on six assists.
A total of 19 of those Canaries appearances came in the English top flight, with Dowell’s solitary Premier League strike coming in a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford in April 2022.