Rangers Opinion: George Edmundson can prove to be a massive bargain for the Gers
According to the Daily Record, Rangers have set their sights on highly-rated Oldham Athletic defender George Edmundson in a bid to add more depth to their defensive options this summer.
The Daily Record understands that Steven Gerrard is prepared to fork out £450,000 to bring the 21-year-old centre-back to Ibrox in the summer transfer window.
The same source claims that Rangers are likely to face stiff competition from EFL Championship sides Stoke City and Hull City in their pursuit of the Oldham prodigy, who has also been monitored closely by League One outfits Sunderland and Fleetwood Town.
Edmundson has made a total of 54 appearances for Oldham Athletic in all competitions this season, helping the Latics to a mid-table finish in League Two. The youngster has earned rave reviews for his consistently impressive performances at the heart of the defence and it is little surprise to see him linked with moves to so many clubs in the higher divisions.
The Wythenshawe-born centre-back rose through the youth ranks at Oldham Athletic before making his professional debut at Boundary Park against Shrewsbury Town back in 2015.
Edmundson struggled to establish himself as a first-team regular for the Latics and spent time on loan at non-league clubs Ramsbottom United, Alfreton Town and most recently AFC Fylde last season.
However, Edmundson has really come of age for the Latics in the fourth-tier this season, establishing himself as an ever-present at the heart of the defence due to his consistent run of form.
The 21-year-old has made a total of 79 appearances for Oldham in all competitions till date, scoring thrice and assisting another five.
To put things into perspective, Rangers have every reason to look at George Edmundson as a good long-term investment, although a move to Ibrox from the fourth-tier of English football would present a huge jump for the youngster, both in terms of quality and intensity.
However, the Gers should keep in mind that a few Championship clubs are also interested in securing his services, which is a clear indication of the fact that Edmundson is considered good enough to play at a higher level.
Rangers got the better of arch-rivals Celtic in the Old Firm derby on Sunday but the Gers have fallen well short in the title race, despite showing plenty of promise and strong signs of progress under Steven Gerrard.
The Gers, however, haven’t wasted any time in getting down to business, securing the services of Jordan Jones and Jake Hastie from Kilmarnock and Motherwell on pre-contract deals.
Steven Davis’s loan spell from Southampton has been made permanent while Glenn Kamara has proven himself to be a massive bargain at Ibrox. Gregg Stewart is also expected to join the club at the end of the season and the fans should be pleased with the amount of effort that the club has put in to bring in quality reinforcements.
While question marks continue to linger over Alfredo Morelos’s future at Ibrox, Rangers need to invest in at least another centre-back to ensure adequate cover and competition at the back.
The Gers have missed out on soon-to-be free-agent Mexer, who has signed a pre-contract agreement with Bordeaux but Edmundson won’t cost them a fortune either.
Joe Worrall is set to return to his parent club Nottingham Forest upon the expiry of his loan spell while 39-year-old Gareth McAuley is out of contract in a month’s time.
That would leave Gerrard short of options at the back, with Croatian starlet Nikola Katic and Conor Goldson being the only other viable senior options.
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Edmundson has mostly plied his trade in the lower divisions of English football, and although there is an element of risk involved in bringing such a little-known talent to Ibrox all of a sudden, Rangers might have a massive bargain on their hands should the 21-year-old deliver the goods next season.
The 6ft. 3 inches centre-back is rated highly in League Two and Rangers can unearth a gem by striking a deal for him this summer.
