Rangers have been told one of English football’s brightest young talents could be tempted to join Derek McInnes at Ibrox.
The Gers have made a habit in recent years of bringing Premier League prospects north of the border on loan. They’ve used the loan market to add quality to the squad while giving those players the senior minutes they need to develop.
Tottenham youngster Mikey Moore joined Rangers on loan last season and left Ibrox a far more complete player than when he arrived.
It wasn’t always smooth. Moore arrived during a difficult period for the club, and Rangers’ tough start could easily have knocked a young player’s confidence, but by the end of the campaign he had made 47 appearances in all competitions.
|
Moore’s loan spell at Rangers |
Apps |
Goals |
Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Premiership |
33 |
7 |
3 |
|
Europa League |
7 |
0 |
0 |
|
League Cup |
3 |
0 |
1 |
|
Scottish Cup |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Champions League qualifiers |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
47 |
7 |
4 |
Moore’s form earned high praise from inside the dressing room, too. Former captain James Tavernier was quick to credit how he handled the pressure.
“We had a difficult start to the season and Mikey responded well. He kept his head down and continued working hard,” Tavernier said. “You can see his performances on the pitch; it is credit to him. Players can go under or go missing after the start we had, but he has taken everything on his shoulders and is pushing himself as a player.”
Dowman may be tempted by Rangers loan
Moore is now on loan in the Bundesliga with Köln, but his spell in Glasgow clearly left a mark. Former Rangers striker Mark Hateley believes the Spurs man’s experience could help persuade Arsenal’s Max Dowman to follow the same path, telling The Glasgow Times that Moore’s very public admiration for the club will tempt other youngsters to Glasgow.
“If Max Dowman looks at what Mikey Moore did last year, he was transformed, and I think he sings praises for how Rangers looked after him and his parents. Max is in a similar situation,” Hateley said.
“Danny Röhl found a way to play him and get the best out of Mikey Moore at Rangers. I think Derek McInnes would see the good habits he brings from Arsenal, and hopefully he would have a similar impact to what Mikey did from January onwards.
“That’s what football is crying out for now – ballcarriers. Players like Paul Gascoignes, who carry the ball forward and release players ahead of them. Max is a similar sort of player, and the game time would do him a lot of good. Coming up to Scotland would toughen him up.”
Minutes have been hard to come by for Dowman so far this season. He’s played just nine minutes in the Premier League, although when he was handed a full 90 in the EFL Cup, he scored twice.
Mikel Arteta hasn’t ruled out a temporary exit for the youngster, but any decision will depend on how the season unfolds.
“We will evaluate every six months where we are and what is the best thing for him to do and then make the right decision,” the Gunners boss said.
“What he needs, and what the team needs as well, the availability we have in the squad, the minutes that he is playing and the qualities of those minutes. We have to be open, but now the focus is to be here and to impact the team.”
With Arsenal reviewing his situation every six months, January could be the first real chance for a move. And if just nine league minutes sees him put on the loan list at the Emirates, Rangers will hope Moore’s glowing reviews of Ibrox give them a head start.