'Screams Quality' - Pundit reacts as 'Fantastic' Rangers-linked ace tipped for record transfer

Rangers may have been linked to a possible move for “fantastic” youngster Lennon Miller but their chances have been ignored by Tam McManus.

The former Hibs pundit responded on PLZ Soccer (28 October) after host Peter Martin asked whether the Fir Park sensation will head to England next or whether the Old Firm could still be his next move, focusing only on Celtic’s ability to go to Motherwell to name their price.

McManus believes the 18-year-old will break the club’s transfer record – £3.25million for David Turnbull to Celtic in 2020 – when he does depart but while they will make a “fortune” they should keep him for as long as possible.

The Hoops have the ability to pay such a fee the Light Blues were not even considered in his transfer verdict.

Martin asked (16m 10s): “Is he down south or is he potentially someone that Celtic and Rangers will be sniffing about?”

McManus replied: “I think if you’re Celtic you go in after the game and you ask, ‘How much do you want for him?’

“Honestly, I think he was that good yesterday for the first half, if you’re Brendan Rodgers or you’re the Celtic board you go and speak to Motherwell and you say, ‘How much do you want for Lennon Miller?’

“Because I think Celtic have got the money to go and buy him, even if they loan him back to Motherwell for a season. I think he’s a fantastic young player, his attitude, everything about him screams quality.”

Lennon Miller lost to Rangers as Celtic lurk

As soon as Miller began to impress under Stuart Kettlewell the possibility of a move to either side of Glasgow was mooted.

Rangers were watching him during preseason, according to Football Scotland on 10 July, to suggest there was interest from Ibrox at that point.

But thanks to his accelerated development at Fir Park this season and the financial gulf between Rangers and Celtic it looks increasingly like Philippe Clement’s side have missed the boat.

The Belgian snapped up Connor Barron after he left Aberdeen and Ibrox News pundit Derek Ferguson was desperate to see them follow it up with a deal for Miller, with a loan-back agreement also tipped then.

Clement chased a senior central midfielder but moves for Joan Jordan [ABC, 29 July] and Kenny McLean [Jonny McFarlane, 1 July] ultimately failed, while Nedim Bajrami was signed for £3.4million on Deadline Day [Sky Sports, 30 August] to fill a more attacking role.

Such is the quality that Miller is already exhibiting it might, with hindsight, have made more sense to abandon all of the above plans to go all out for the teenager before it was too late.

It seems highly unlikely that Rangers would have anything close to the required budget in January, and another six months of his current form will have long priced them out by next summer.

In those circumstances the Ibrox hierarchy might be left hoping an even bigger side from England or Europe pushes Celtic aside or it could make the task of trying to overturn their dominance in Scotland even harder for years to come.

In other Rangers news, a new Ryan Kent enquiry update has emerged amid links to the winger re-signing for the Light Blues.

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