Rangers manager Steven Gerrard conducted a personal scouting mission as Liverpool’s Dominic Solanke and Everton’s Kieran Dowell played for England Under-21s in October, according to the Scottish Sun.
The newspaper claim on their website that the Gers boss was in attendance to watch on as the young Three Lions beat fierce rivals Scotland 2-0, with Reiss Nelson and Dowell netting the all important goals.
The Everton midfielder is said by the Daily Record (15:12) to be one of Gerrard’s top targets ahead of the January transfer window while the Scottish Sun claim that Solanke, who is out of favour at Liverpool this season, is also among those being eyed for an Ibrox move.
Good moves for Rangers?
The Gers could certainly do with some added recruitment heading into the second half of the season if they want to keep up their title hunt and both Dowell and Solanke make sense as targets.
The latter is struggling for game time at Anfield and with Gerrard in need of a backup striker he ticks a lot of boxes for the Light Blues.
Alfredo Morelos and Kyle Lafferty might be his first choice options now but Solanke would bring some serious competition to Ibrox.
Dowell meanwhile is a versatile midfielder who can operate in an advanced role that few others at Ranger can and would help the forwards when it comes to chances created.
This is Futbol rating: Solanke – 9/10, Dowell – 8/10
Likely to happen?
Both are out of favour at their current sides and while a permanent deal might be difficult for Solanke, Dowell could make the move to Ibrox.
A loan is the only way Rangers will get the Liverpool man on board but he would simply be taking the place of Umar Sadiq in the squad.
These are two moves that look like they could be given the green light and Gerrard killed two birds with one stone by watching them both in action for England.
This is Futbol rating: Solanke (loan only) – 7/10, Dowell – 8.5/10