Rangers have been heavily linked with a move for Preston North End’s Daniel Johnson, with one former Ger claiming that it would be “great move” for both parties.
Speaking to Football Insider, Alan Hutton – who knows Johnson from his time at Aston Villa – explains how the midfielder would fit into Steven Gerrard’s system.
So what has Hutton said?
When asked to reflect on the possible move for the 27-year old, he said:
“Gerrard obviously mentioned after the game that he was looking for a midfielder.
“Obviously I know Daniel Johnson from his time at Villa, so I was very surprised at the time when Villa let him go, I thought it was very early, I thought they could have held onto him to see where he went in his career.
“He’s gone to Preston and he’s been unbelievable, done unbelievably well. Last season he played as a number 10 and I think the numbers are there for everyone to see, he’s done really well, but he’s also a number eight in my opinion, he can do both.
“Whether Gerrard’s looking at this move thinking he can do the number 10 or higher up in an advanced position but he can also be the midfielder that he’s looking for, that driving run into the box, scoring goals – I think he could do that as well.
what football is on tv tonight, tomorrow and at the weekend? Get the latest guide to what match is on television via the Rangers football on tv guide. As well as fixtures and live stream options on where to watch you can also open a legal stream right there with broadcasters such as Sky Sports, BT Sports, Amazon Prime and YouTube.
“Round about the number 10 position they’ve got options so I think Daniel Johnson could fit into that number eight role that he’s looking for. Overall, I think it would be a great move.”
So is Hutton correct?
Absolutely, Hutton knows the player well and also watches a lot of Rangers games – including being part of Rangers TV’s coverage for the 4-0 win over Dundee United at the weekend – so is well placed to offer an opinion on the move.
Were you impressed with Hutton's punditry debut on RTV?
Yes, but not as good as Neil McCann
No, but still miles better than Michael Stewart
Johnson scored 12 goals and created eight assists last season for Preston, numbers similar to that of Joe Aribo and Scott Arfield, so having another player capable of contributing these figures from a deeper position would certainly add to the depth in Gerrard’s squad.
The Gers gaffer also likes versatility in his players, Aribo and Arfield, as well as the likes of Ianis Hagi and Ryan Kent can play in a number of different positions, if the price is right, signing the 27-year old would be an excellent acquisition for the Light Blues.