Rangers ‘raid Brighton's academy to lure rising teenage star' but watch another major talent sign for Newcastle
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RANGERS have raided Brighton's highly-rated academy to land a promising member of their Under-18 squad, it's being reported.
It's being claimed that the 16-year-old, who's been gaining plenty of attention for his exploits at Under-18 level, has been persuaded to come north in one of the first coups for the new regime at Auchenhowie.
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The Rangers training centre
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Zebedee Lawson is rated a player with major potential
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Alfie Hutchinson is joining his former Gers team-mate Oliver Goodbrand at Newcastle
The winger scored three goals and got one assist for Brighton's Under-18s this season and Football Insider claim that the Gers have got the deal over the line.
Less promising news for the Gers, however, is the continuing exodus of some of their existing Scottish stars.
We told you how Scotland age group left back Oliver Goodbrand was poised to join Newcastle Utd.
And now the Magpies appear to have got a deal over the line for one of his team-mates for club and country in the form of Alfie Hutchinson.
As recently as 12 months ago, the Ibrox men splashed out compensation to take the highly-rated Hutchinson from Hearts amid a raft of Premier League interest.
But the lure of St James' Park has proved too strong for the powerful striker, who can also play out wide.
Upheaval is part of life in the Ibrox side's academy and earlier this month the Ibrox men announced the exit of as many as 16 products of the academy.
A statement from Rangers read: "Rangers Academy can today confirm the departure of a number of players who will now continue their footballing journey elsewhere.
"Lewis Budinauckas, Jay Hogarth, Jacob Pazikas, Jack Harkness, Kristian Webster, Leyton Grant, Kerr Robertson, Darren McInally, Grant Leitch and Harry Weir are all moving on.
The club's new US investors are desperate to get a better return from their expensively assembled academy products - although one time caretaker boss David McCallum likely to continue as academy chief.
Sir Sean Connery's secret £1 MILLION investment in Rangers revealed
McCallum served as caretaker manager for the club back in November 2021, leading the team to a Premier Sports Cup semi-final defeat against Hibs between the spells of Steven Gerrard and Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
The head of academy position at Auchenhowie has been vacant since Zeb Jacobs left for Feyenoord last year.
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