Tony Docherty not surprised Rangers want Lyall Cameron as he reveals Dundee star wants to explore his transfer options

Tony Docherty is not surprised Lyall Cameron is on Rangers’ summer wanted list because he knows first-hand what a top talent he is.

Record Sport broke the story last week that the Dundee midfielder, 22, who is out of contract in the summer, is a top target for the Ibrox side. Dens Park manager Docherty still hasn’t given up hope of getting the Scotland Under-21 cap to extend his contract but admitted that the player has indicated he wants to look at his options.

Cameron would be the second Dundee player to move to one of Glasgow’s big two after 27-year-old midfielder Luke McCowan joined Celtic on the last deadline day. And Docherty said: “Lyall Cameron has been fantastic for this football club. He has been absolutely brilliant and you look at his numbers, he has really kicked on.

“I threw the gauntlet down to him, that with Luke going, that he could step up. He had done that and stepped up to the plate.

“It is no surprise when a player like that is out of contract and there will be interest in him. It is purely speculation at the moment. We have a lot of players, six or seven who are out-of-contract at the end of the season.

“We have identified, as a club, to offer contract extensions and it is then their prerogative what they do with them. A couple have come back and said they will sign and others are exploring their options.

“Lyall is in that category. It is the business we are in and it doesn’t surprise me that there is that amount of speculation about Lyall because he is an extremely talented young footballer.”

Dundee would be due compensation if he moved to Ibrox. If a fee couldn’t be agreed between the two clubs then it would go to a tribunal, as Connor Barron’s move from Aberdeen to Rangers recently did.

Docherty