Rangers could land England’s “biggest talent” as Mikey Moore replacement emerges

Rangers could replace Mikey Moore with England’s “biggest talent”

Rangers showed last season just how much can be gained from giving a highly rated youngster the right environment to develop, with Mikey Moore eventually becoming one of the standout players at Ibrox.

The Tottenham loanee endured a difficult introduction to Scottish football, with questions even raised over whether he could return to north London early.

Those doubts quickly disappeared.

Moore developed into a key player for Rangers and finished the campaign with the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award. His performances demonstrated the potential rewards available when the Gers can identify the right young talent and provide them with regular first-team football.

The problem for Rangers has been turning successful loan spells into permanent deals.

Malik Tillman, Abdallah Sima and Vaclav Cerny all enjoyed impressive periods in Glasgow without ultimately becoming permanent Rangers players. Moore followed the same pattern, despite reports that the club had explored ways of keeping him at Ibrox.

Why Rangers couldn’t keep Moore

There had been hope that Moore could remain in Scotland beyond last season, either through another loan or a permanent transfer.

Former Rangers boss Danny Rohl was understood to be keen on retaining the winger, but his eventual departure complicated matters.

Tottenham also wanted to assess Moore during pre-season before deciding on the next step in his development.

The youngster subsequently made a strong impression during Spurs’ preparations, scoring twice against Hoffenheim and starting the opening Premier League fixture against Brentford.

He then produced another eye-catching moment with a superb goal against Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup.

With Tottenham adding more attacking options, however, a loan move eventually became the preferred route.

Moore joined Bundesliga outfit FC Koln and immediately attracted attention with his performances. He has since started his last two league matches and is beginning to establish himself in Germany.

The numbers underline the individual quality he showed during his time in Glasgow.

In the Scottish Premiership last season, Moore registered seven goals and three assists in 33 appearances, while averaging 1.5 successful dribbles per game and 1.2 key passes.

He has yet to record a goal or assist in Germany this season, but his ability to beat defenders remains evident, with an average of 2.3 successful dribbles per game.

Could Max Dowman be Rangers’ next Moore?

Rangers will already be thinking about how they can add more attacking quality in 2027, and one of the names reportedly attracting their attention is Arsenal youngster Max Dowman.

The teenager is not yet 17, but his reputation within the Arsenal academy is already enormous.

Academy expert Will Balsam has described Dowman as the “biggest talent in England”, while a number of clubs have reportedly made contact with Arsenal about the possibility of taking him on loan.

Rangers are understood to be among those interested, with Celtic also linked with the player.

Dowman turns 17 on December 31, meaning he will become eligible for a loan move during the January transfer window.

Arsenal are reportedly willing to consider a temporary move as they look to ensure he receives the regular senior football required to continue his development.

Why Dowman could be an exciting Rangers option

Dowman’s early first-team impact has already been significant for a player of his age.

He has scored and assisted four goals across his first 15 senior appearances for Arsenal, despite being only 16, and has already been given opportunities by Mikel Arteta.

One of his most memorable moments came against Everton last season when he produced a brilliant solo run before setting up Viktor Gyokeres for the opening goal.

His individual quality has continued into the current campaign.

Dowman recently scored twice in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup victory over Ipswich, including another impressive piece of individual skill as he carried the ball into the penalty area before finishing.

His composure, dribbling ability and willingness to take on defenders are traits that could make him particularly effective in Scottish football.

Rangers cannot assume that a loan deal would be straightforward, particularly with numerous clubs reportedly interested.

However, if the Gers can secure Dowman for even half a season, he could provide a similar development opportunity to the one that ultimately helped Moore flourish at Ibrox.

For Derek McInnes, bringing one of England’s most highly regarded young prospects to Rangers would represent another chance to use the club as a platform for elite young talent.