Rangers suffer major blow as they lose two highly-rated starlets to English Premier League giants
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RANGERS have lost two top starlets to the English Premier League.
Oliver Goodbrand and Alfie Hutchison have both sealed transfers to Newcastle United.
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It's a blow for Rangers to lose the two starlets
Credit: Kenny Ramsay - Commissioned by The Sun Glasgow
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The duo have joined Steve Harper's Newcastle academy setup
Credit: Getty
It's a blow for the Rangers academy with the two highly-rated 16-year olds moving on to the Toon's under-18 squad.
The switches of Goodbrand and Hutchison had been expected for some time.
Both players have been capped at youth level by Scotland.
Defender Goodbrand rose through the academy ranks at the Gers and made it all the way to the B team.
He appeared for the Gers' second team in a Glasgow Cup tie with Partick Thistle when he was only 15.
Goodbrand has also captained Scotland's under-16 team.
The Light Blues will certainly be disappointed to see Hutchison move on, especially seeing as they only landed him last year.
There was a major battle to sign Hutchison with huge English clubs such as Arsenal and Chelsea in for him.
Newcastle wanted to sign him last year too.
But it was Rangers who won the race to sign him from Hearts.
Russell Martin opens up after he got sent off by John Beaton in pre-season friendly vs 'Boro
But just a year on, Hutchison - who's eligible for Scotland and England - has now joined Newcastle.
Like Goodbrand, he also featured for the Rangers B team last season.
Newcastle's academy director Steve Harper was delighted to land both of the players.
He told the club's website: "Alfie and Oliver are two exciting additions to our Academy and we're really pleased to bring them into the programme.
"They've both shown strong potential at club and international level and arrive with a great attitude and a hunger to keep improving.
"Our recruitment team deserve great credit for bringing Alfie and Oliver to the club and we're confident they'll benefit from the environment we've created here.
"We're looking forward to seeing them both settle into the group and supporting their development as they take their next steps in the game."
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