Tyrese Campbell admits Rangers wanted to sign him during his formative years at Stoke City while distancing himself from a reported £20 million move to Premier League outfit Newcastle United, speaking to the Beautiful Game podcast.
For the first time since suffering that season-ending knee injury during the 2020/21 season, the former England U20 international is starting to click into gear once again.
Take his decisive goal in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Preston North End for instance; a wonderfully feathered finish following a burst of trademark acceleration. A goal that showcases the speed, the incision and the unpredictability of a forward who, a couple of years ago, appeared to have a one-way ticket to the top level in his back pocket.
He might still, of course. But much depends on whether one of the EFL’s brightest talents can rediscover his pre-injury form on a consistent basis.
According to The Sun, Newcastle United were lining up a £20 million bid some 10 months ago. But, when pressed on those reports, Campbell insists that leaving Stoke in the middle of a season was not something that ever truly appealed.
Newcastle United looked at Stoke City forward Tyrese Campbell
“Obviously, there was interest and stuff. But I wasn’t really interested in moving, especially in the January. There’s been interest in the past,” Campbell explains. “But it’s never been concrete enough to ever come to anything.
“As a player, it’s up to me at the end of the day. It’s a big step up, potentially moving to a different (league). There’s a lot of factors that come into it. The main one to me is if I’m going to play. If I’m not going to play, I’m better off staying where I am.”
Campbell, ‘rapid, strong, powerful’ and boasting ‘Premier League-level, incredible’ finishing skills (to quote Stoke boss Alex Neil) come close to joining Scottish giants Rangers before exploding onto the scene in the Potteries a couple of seasons ago.
Now valued in excess of £20 million, the Campbell ship has long since sailed as far as Rangers are concerned.
“Yeah, there was a couple of points where a move was going to happen. This was only really when I wasn’t really playing at Stoke, before I signed my new deal,” recalls Campbell, the son of Arsenal and Everton hero Kevin.
“I was 19, turning 20. I needed to play football. Yeah, (it was) Rangers. But the manager at Stoke, Michael O’Neill, sat me down at the time and said; ‘what’s going on?’.
“I said; ‘I’ve got nothing against the club, I just need to play’. He said; ‘if I pick you, are you going to play?’. And I said; ‘yeah, of course. I’m not going to not play. I don’t want to leave. I’m happy here’.”
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