Rangers Could Offer Mikey Moore January Lifeline as Tottenham Loan Spell Turns Sour

Rangers should consider making another move for Mikey Moore when the January transfer window opens, with the Tottenham Hotspur youngster struggling to make an impact during his loan spell in Germany.

The winger enjoyed a productive temporary spell at Ibrox last season, registering 11 goal contributions and quickly becoming a popular figure among supporters.

Despite Rangers enduring a difficult campaign under Russell Martin and Danny Rohl, Moore was one of the players who caught the eye.

The 19-year-old returned to Tottenham at the end of his loan, but Rangers were interested in bringing him back to Glasgow during the summer.

However, Moore had other ideas and opted to test himself outside the UK, joining Bundesliga outfit FC Koln on a straight season-long loan.

So far, the decision has not worked out as hoped, potentially giving Rangers an opportunity to revisit their interest in the New Year.

Moore’s German adventure failing to take off

Rangers were aware that convincing Moore to return to Ibrox would be difficult, particularly after the youngster decided that a move abroad would be the best next step in his development.

Derek McInnes was reportedly informed about the possibility of bringing the Tottenham winger back shortly after taking charge at Rangers and was keen to work with the highly-rated attacker.

Moore’s decision to join Koln may have been influenced by the success enjoyed by English players such as Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham in Germany.

However, his opening months in the Bundesliga have been frustrating.

The winger has started only four league matches and has failed to register a goal or assist across his first eight appearances in all competitions.

A report from Sport BILD has described his loan situation as a mess, suggesting that the expected progress has not materialised.

There are also concerns that the youngster is putting too much pressure on himself, with frustration reportedly beginning to build.

If the situation remains unchanged over the coming weeks, Rangers should consider contacting Tottenham to establish whether a January return to Scotland could be possible.

Should Spurs look to bring the loan arrangement to an early end, the Ibrox club could attempt to put themselves in a strong position to secure his services again.

Rangers could give Moore a fresh start

There are also reasons why a return to Glasgow could appeal to the player.

Djeidi Gassama and Findlay Curtis have struggled to make a consistent impact for Rangers this season, while the club have lacked regular goals and assists from their wide players.

Badredine Bouanani has offered encouragement, but there remains room for improvement in the attacking department.

Moore has already demonstrated that he can contribute in a Rangers shirt, making him an interesting option if Tottenham become open to changing his loan arrangements.

His current situation at Koln has also attracted attention from head coach Rene Wagner, who appeared to challenge the youngster to deliver more in the final third.

Speaking before Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Union Berlin, Wagner said:

“An assist or a goal from Moore would still be on my personal bingo card.”

The comment underlines the need for the teenager to start producing more tangible attacking contributions if he is to establish himself in Germany.

Moore deserves credit for taking the opportunity to experience football abroad, but his current struggles could leave Tottenham considering whether another environment would better suit his development.

Rangers would certainly be familiar territory, and a return could offer the winger an opportunity to rediscover the form that made him such an exciting performer at Ibrox.

A potential attacking combination involving Moore, Min-su Kim and Bouanani behind a central striker would also give McInnes plenty to think about.

There is no guarantee that Tottenham or Koln would agree to an early change, but Rangers should at least explore the possibility if Moore’s difficult spell in Germany continues.