The former Dundee United starlet has endured a torrid time with Sporting Lisbon and Rangers could be the perfect escape route.
Jorge Jesus may be one of the continent’s top managers, or so he says, but there’s a downside to all that winning. The bouffanted tactician really doesn’t take losing very well.
This is a man who, when Benfica disagreed with his wage demands, turned his back on his club of six years and rocked up at arch rivals Sporting Lisbon instead. So of course Sporting brought a swift end 21-year-old Ryan Gauld’s loan spell at Vitoria Setubal when the Portuguese minnows knocked their illustrious opponents out of the domestic cup thanks to a contentious penalty.
And, what’s more, the Scottish Sun report that the former Dundee United starlet has now been relegated to Sporting’s B team.
While Gauld should be commended for trying his hand abroad in an era where British players appear unwilling to leave their comfort zone, the ‘Scottish Messi’ has barely been given a chance to show off his mesmeric dribbling in the Iberian nation. In three seasons, he has only made seven top flight appearances.
Therefore, with reported interest in Jota, Sergi Canos, even unattached veteran Leon Osman coming to nothing, per the Scottish Sun, Rangers should offer one of the most exciting Scottish talents of the century an escape route, not to mention a route back home.
A fresh-faced, fleet-footed Gauld dazzled the Scottish Premiership during his formative years with Dundee United, starring in a 3-1 Scottish Cup semi-final win at Ibrox when he was just 19, and few fit Mark Warburton’s specifications more snugly.
The Rangers manager has shown an interest in young, improving talents desperate for first-team chances while previous transfer rumours suggest a clever, creative midfielder is right at the top of his wanted list.
The sight of Gauld toiling away in the Sporting reserves will rankle north of the border and Warburton, an astute spotter of young talents, would benefit immensely from coming to the youngster’s rescue.