Rangers transfer news bulletin as Leo Castledine 'targeted' and ex insider reveals 'desperation' over Liverpool star

Highly-rated Chelsea teen Leo Castledine is interesting Rangers, according to a report.

The 19-year-old has been a rising star within the Stamford Bridge academy for years, standing out in the U18 side and most recently in Premier League 2 for their reserves where he scored ten goals and registered nine assists last season. He's also been on the fringes of the Chelsea first team, making the squad seven times and debuting off the bench against Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup.

Football Scotland stay club officials at Ibrox have been in contract with the EPL giants over a season-long loan agreement - but they face competition for his signature. It's claimed a sticking point on the conditions is the fact Rangers are pushing for an option to buy down the line but the Blues are more open to just a straight up 'dry' loan, feeling he still has a future in London. Aberdeen are said to have also made their interest known while a clubs from the English Championship are also keen on his services.

Philippe Clement is on the hunt for a new midfielder to replace the 'missed' John Lundstram and Castledine could be one to fill that void. Once upon a time, while Lundstram was still standing out for Sheffield United in the Premier League, it was Liverpool's Curtis Jones they were trying to recruit for that position.

Steven Gerrard's former No.2 Gary McAllister said that while Jones, now a key figure at Anfield, was high on the recruitment agenda. He was linked with a move back in the summer of 2019, Jones then a rising star in a similar position to the one Castledine finds himself in now at Chelsea.

He ended up staying put and has racked up 134 appearances for the Reds' first team. And he could be one of the central tenets of the Arne Slot