According to a recent report by the Daily Record, Premiership giants Rangers are said to be close to completing a transfer for Blackpool’s 16-year-old wonder kid Tony Weston. The report suggests that the Ibrox club have been determined to make a move for the youngster’s services this summer, owing to the fact that he can’t be tied down to a professional contract in England until he turns 17. With the rules being different in Scotland, the Gers are attempting to lure the attacker to the Ibrox at the earliest.
With the report clarifying that Rangers are close to Tony Weston signing, it’s now up to Steven Gerrard to ensure that this move doesn’t fall through. It has been claimed that the Liverpool legend will have an important part to play in convincing the forward to make the switch to the Ibrox this summer as well.
The guideline that players can be issued professional contracts at the age of 16 in Scotland is being taken full advantage of by Gerrard’s side to ensure that this transfer happens. Leeds United, Everton and Southampton have all seemingly expressed their interest in the youngster too.
How Has Tony Weston Made A Name For Himself?
The 16-year-old Englishman is originally from Liverpool, and that could be why it has been clarified that Gerrard’s intervention could have a big part to play in the conduction of this deal. Born in September 2003, the youngster has been a member of the Blackpool youth system for a while now, although he only made a real place for himself in the squad this campaign. The forward has been the recipient of multiple player of the season awards at lower levels too. Despite starting the season with the academy setup, it wasn’t long before Simon Grayson called him up into the first-team.
As mentioned earlier, the forward spent the first half of the 2019/20 league campaign with the Blackpool academy, where he seemed to announce himself superbly by scoring 14 goals along the way. It was on the 23rd of November that Weston was first called up to the main squad, as he travelled with the team for a match against Ipswich Town. Having been pulled out of school to travel for the tournament, it became clear that the attacker was headed for bigger things. Weston got his first-team break when he came on as a substitute in Blackpool’s 3-1 win over Maidstone United in an FA Cup tie.
What Sort Of Skill-Set Would Weston Bring To The Ibrox?
The 16-year-old has been the subject of massive praise from Simon Grayson throughout the season, as had been reported by the Gazette. The youngster, who is primarily a striker by position, is said to have good attributes as well as dangerous movement. The fact that he’s still in school seems to have worked to his advantage as well, as the sheer energy and desire he showcased succeeded in capturing the gaffer’s attention too. The Englishman has a massive future ahead of him for sure, and Rangers could be the right place to ensure that he’s nurtured properly.
Rangers Are Close To Tony Weston Signing: Why Gerrard Must Sign Him Up
At 16-years-old, the fact that the forward has caught the attention of Premier League sides like Everton and Southampton should be enough to convince Gerrard to make a move. The Gers’ have been attempting to develop a trend of bringing young players in the side, and Weston would fit seamlessly into the Liverpool legend’s system at the Ibrox. The right kind of coaching could turn the youngster into a real star in the coming years, and the Ibrox stadium is likely to be the best destination with his future in mind.