Scottish giants Rangers are reportedly monitoring Doncaster Rovers youngster Bayley McCann, with scouts sent to watch the promising talent in action.
The Glasgow-based outfit are in the early stages of a new era at Ibrox. Having fallen away in the latter stages of last season, they were forced to watch from afar as bitter rivals Celtic battled Hearts for the Premiership title, with the two teams providing an epic final day showdown at Celtic Park.
The Jam Tarts had looked poised to finally break the Glasgow dominance, having led the division for the majority of the season. However, a 3-1 defeat at Celtic saw Martin O’Neill’s side clinch the title right at the death.
Rangers responded by raiding Hearts for striker Lawrence Shankland before tempting manager Derek McInnes to make the switch west to replace the recently departed Danny Rohl.
Rangers Rebuild Paying Off
McInnes suffered a slow start in his new surroundings, failing to pick up a win in any of his opening four fixtures in all competitions. With 14 new signings over the summer, it was always likely to take time for the new-look squad to gel, but they’ve been in stunning form since.
A 1-0 win over Aberdeen at the end of August kicked off a run of seven successive victories, which included back-to-back triumphs over Celtic in the league and League Cup. That run came to an end last Saturday with a 2-2 draw at Dundee and they now sit four points behind their familiar foes.
Hearts sit four points further back in third, with McInnes set to visit his former employers next Wednesday. It’s set to be a huge night in Edinburgh as Rangers target another three points in their race for a first title since 2021.
Scouts Head For England In Search Of Future Stars
Despite the busy summer, it looks as if Rangers are already working on potential new recruits ahead of the January transfer window. According to Football Insider, scouts were dispatched to England’s League One for the clash between Doncaster Rovers and Stockport County last night.
It is said that the target of their interest was 20-year-old Bayley McCann, son of Rovers boss Grant. Capable of playing across an array of positions on both the left and right-hand sides, the youngster was given his first league start of the campaign.
The Northern Ireland under-21 international played the full 90 minutes as Doncaster fell to a 2-0 reverse, but put in a steady performance. He completed 100% of his dribbles throughout the encounter, whilst also showed his defensive capabilities by making four defensive recoveries.
McCann only reunited with his father in January when he penned a two-and-a-half-year deal from fellow League One outfit Barnsley. He was immediately loaned to National League North side Alfreton Town, where he made 22 appearances.
With two assists to his name this season, it remains to be seen as to whether Rangers will follow up on their initial interest. However, if they do, he is clearly a signing for the future as McInnes targets long-term, sustained success at Ibrox.
