Rangers would make statement signing Reading’s Liam Kelly

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The Reading midfielder was linked with Rangers earlier in the season.

If Rangers fans had their way, the club would snap up Emerson Hyndman on a five-year deal in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, however, that is easier said than done.

The creative, dynamic American loanee will return to parent club Bournemouth in the summer all the better for six months spent strutting his stuff on the historic Ibrox turf, Cherries boss Eddie Howe said in quotes reported by the Daily Record.

Though Hyndman, who scored his fourth goal in eight league games in Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing of Hamilton, has made such an impact at Rangers that the creative problems that blighted the club in the first half of the season have been almost forgotten.

Therefore, the 20-year-old’s summer departure will leave quite a hole in Pedro Caixinha’s squad. Though perhaps that would be the ideal time to renew their interest in Reading’s Liam Kelly.

A revelation at the promotion chasing club, Kelly was promoted to the first-team squad by manager Jaap Stam earlier in the season and a whirlwind breakthrough campaign has culminated in a maiden call-up to the Republic of Ireland international squad.

And if an impressive tally of four assists in 14 starts is not enough to convince of his creative talents, Stam had no qualms about comparing the youngster to one of the greatest midfielders of all time. No pressure then.

“Of course, [Andres] Iniesta has the experience and everything else, but if you look at the things Liam can do he certainly comes close to him,” Stam in quotes reported by the Reading Chronicle.

“Liam has been outstanding for us. He can pass, he can move he can go past people and defensively he’s aggressive. These are qualities that nowadays big teams like to have.”

One of those ‘big teams’ could well be Rangers. HITC sources told us that the Ibrox giants had identified Kelly as a star for the future.

The fact Kelly committed his future to Reading until 2019 casts doubt on any deal but Rangers must make a statement of intent and attracting the 21-year-old to Ibrox as Hyndman’s long-term replacement would certainly demonstrate the aggressive approach demanded by the fans.