RANGERS PLAN LEWIS MOVE
Everton’s £6million-rated Gibson on radar
RANGERS are weighing up a January move for Everton’s £6million-rated youngster Lewis Gibson. The teenage stopper has grown frustrated at his failure to break into Marco Silva’s first team and the Ibrox club are poised to swoop. New sporting director Ross Wilson is aware of
Gibson’s situation with Rangers manager Steven Gerrard also an admirer after being tipped off by his Merseyside connections.
He moved to Goodison in an initial £1m deal rising to £6m from boyhood club Newcastle United two years ago after helping England win the Under-17 World Cup in India.
Gibson has been a regular for David Unsworth’s Under-23 champions but craves first-team action after featuring for Silva in pre-season.
He was even linked with a return to St James’ Park, where he quit after making a complaint against axed youth team boss and club legend Peter Beardsley, with Everton yet to offer a new deal.
Gibson is out of contract at the end of the season and that has alerted Gerrard who could land the player for £240,000 thanks to the cross-border loophole used to land Joe Aribo from Charlton.
Meanwhile, Ibrox defender Nikola Katic signed a new long-term deal last night.
The Croatian centre-back has pledged himself to Rangers until the summer of 2023 and insists he’s in the perfect place to continue his development.
He told the Rangers website: “I feel it is really good for me and four more years here and I think that will help me to become a better player, a better person and to help the club achieve something special.”
Boss Gerrard insists Katic is a perfectionist who thoroughly merits the reward of an improved contract.
He said: “I am delighted for him. First and foremost I think he deserves it, he is a player who comes in here on a daily basis and he tries to improve every day.”
DEREk McINNEs is well aware Aberdeen’s star trio will have clubs lining up for them in January and insists he’s already planning for bids.
Scotland centre-back Scott McKenna is back in business after a period of injury and was impressive in the 1-1 home draw against Hibs two weeks ago.
Sam Cosgrove netted the equaliser in that game – his 14th goal in 15 outings – and has joined his team-mate on the radar of several clubs south of the border.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old Lewis Ferguson, a first-pick for McInnes, has consistently turned in top performances since his move to the Reds in summer 2018.
The ex-Hamilton ace was sent off in stoppage-time against the Hibees which adds to the immediate headache of an injury crisis that has engulfed his squad.
But there is no criticism from McInnes who accepts Ferguson, Cosgrove and McKenna are hot property right now.
The Dons gaffer said: “Lewis is a natural central midfielder and was outstanding against Hibs.
“I spoke to him after the Hibs game. It wasn’t a reckless challenge but it was mistimed.
“He was in midfield on his own putting out fires left, right and centre and he was maybe over-eager to make a challenge.
“I’m not going to be too critical of him but his absence adds to an already difficult situation.
“When you look at value in the team in terms of assets I would say McKenna, Cosgrove and Ferguson are exactly that.
“In terms of what they give to me on a Saturday, I’ve had that value from them regularly.
“January has always been a window where you have to react to the situation.
“I’d like us to be in January now and have the ability to deal with what’s to come but as a manager you have to be ready for situations all the time.
“If you have a young, firstpick centre-half in McKenna, you expect people to see what we see and what Scotland manager Steve Clarke sees.
“Anybody who is doing any sort of recruitment at any level acknowledges there is a striker with size and ability in Cosgrove.
“I don’t worry about interest being shown in these players. I know if they fulfil their potential, their form and ability will take them elsewhere at some point.”
McInnes admits he’s experiencing his most testing time in six-and-a-half years as Dons boss as he battles through a damaging injury crisis that has set his side back.
And the Reds have been further hampered in their preparations for tomorrow’s crucial clash at Motherwell with the suspensions of Ferguson and English striker Curtis Main.
McInnes’ squad has been stripped to the bare bones as he looks to the possibility of fielding experienced Craig Bryson against the Steelmen – even though the ex-Derby player isn’t fully fit.
The engine room of Aberdeen has been decimated, not only because of Ferguson’s absence but through injuries to Bryson, Funso Ojo, Stephen Gleeson and Scott Wright.
It means McInnes is likely to look to Scotland Under-21 kids Dean Campbell and Ethan Ross to fill in.
He said: “Sometimes as a manager your job can be easy.
“You pick the same team and when we’ve had our best results over the years it has come when I can name 10 of my starting XI.
“But sometimes it is more of a challenge and you have to find different ways to pick up points until players come back. That’s the challenge we’re facing just now.
“We have six good defenders and with James Wilson coming back in after a knee injury, we’re not too bad at the top end of the pitch.
“But midfield is the problem and the suspension of Ferguson makes it even more frustrating.”
Youngsters Campbell and Ross have shown potential but they were slightly off the pace in that draw with Hibs.
And they might find the Fir Park physicality tough.
Both were involved in the Scotland Under-19s’ win against Germany at Firhill on Tuesday night but were left wanting when Ryan Porteous scored for the Easter Road outfit at Pittodrie.
However, McInnes reckons they have shown they can battle when the going gets tough.
He said: “I’m conscious Dean and Ethan are facing the big jump of playing regularly in the team.
“Dean has had game time recently and ideally I would like to dip him in and out. It’s a learning curve for both lads.
“I’ve watched them with the Scotland Under-19s and they compete brilliantly within their age group.”