Former Rangers target Tyrese Campbell has revealed why he opted to stay at relegation threatened Stoke City rather than opt for a move to the title chasing, Europa League contenders in a report in The Glasgow Times.
It had looked, at one stage, as though the Gers had stolen a march on the Potters and were in pole position to secure the 20-year-old‘s signature but it’s amazing what a run of games and goals can do to persuade a youngster where their future lies.
Rangers were looking to get Campbell on a similar deal to the one that saw Joe Aribo make the move to Scotland, offering him a contract and only having to pay a fee in the region of £350k but it would take considerably more than that to land the striker now as he looks to have cemented his place in Michael O’Neill’s starting XI.
The England under-20 international said of his decision to stay at Stoke:
“Hearing his [O’Neill] plans for me is really encouraging. He’s always been honest and is great to work for. Everybody in the team has nothing but respect for him”.
“Any player, regardless of their age, wants to hear from the manager that they’re going to play and be a key figure for the team – and that’s a big factor of me signing”.
“To know that I’m in his thoughts fills me with so much confidence and I really do feel that under him, I can progress and develop into the player that I want to be”.
The Ibrox side could’ve done with Campbell’s services in recent weeks with Alfredo Morelos suspended and Greg Stewart injured, Jermain Defoe has been leading the line on his own with Steven Gerrard short of options on the bench, to make matters worse, Morelos has been carrying a minor calf injury and will have to be carefully managed over the congested fixture list coming up.
Should Rangers make a move for Lawrence Shankland?
Yes
No
It is a case of what might have been for Campbell but with Rangers reported to have been keeping an eye on Dundee United’s Lawrence Shankland in mid-week, his replacement may be a lot closer to home.