Scottish Premiership giants Rangers were hoping to snaffle Tyler Roberts from West Brom but Championship side Leeds United have made their move.
Rangers looked close to agreeing a deal to sign West Bromwich Albion youngster Tyler Roberts on a pre-contract agreement.
According to the Sun, the Glasgow giants had explored the prospect of loaning the 18-year-old until the end of the season, but turned their attention to signing him instead after it emerged that he would set them back just £300,000 by way of a compensation fee.
West Brom were loath to lose Roberts, and were hoping to tie him down to a new long-term deal. But they would have been powerless to prevent Rangers getting their man.
Yet in one fell swoop, it looks as if Rangers’ hopes of luring the Welsh youngster to Ibrox have suffered an almighty blow. Because the Sun states that Leeds United have made a bid of £4 million for Roberts.
The Baggies have rejected the bid but will know that £4 million, or however much Leeds are willing to offer, would not be a bad result at all considering that Roberts could walk away for free in a few months, albeit with West Brom set to earn something via a tribunal.
Reports of Leeds’ sudden, and rather hefty, bid has left Rangers in a difficult situation, however. Essentially, the Ibrox side will be praying that West Brom neither give in to Leeds’ advances or tie Roberts down to a new deal.
Because it goes without saying that they would be unable to even dream of matching Leeds’ £4 million offer right now.
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