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Former international says Rangers ‘always’ wanted him, claims Leeds United interest

Arsenal player Paul Merson with the League Cup and man of the match trophy after the 1993 Coca-Cola Cup Final between Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesd...
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Arsenal player Paul Merson with the League Cup and man of the match trophy after the 1993 Coca-Cola Cup Final between Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley on April 18, 1993 in London,… (Getty Images/Getty Images)

Paul Merson has told The Herald that then Rangers manager Walter Smith wanted to sign him for the Ibrox club, adding that Leeds United also wanted him when he was at Arsenal.

The Sky Sports pundit started his professional club football career at Arsenal and was very successful at the Gunners.

The 52-year-old, who could operate as a forward or as an attacking midfielder, was on the books of the Gunners from 1982 until 1997.

Merson has said that when he was at Arsenal, he had offers from Rangers and Leeds, adding that he was too scared to make the move to the Gers.

Merson told The Herald: “The opportunity to join Rangers came up a lot. They were always in for me.

“Walter Smith was the manager. I was playing for Arsenal at that time and I would have probably gone.

“But it’s just back then, when you are younger, your agent will say to put in a transfer and you can go. But I didn’t have the balls to do that.

“If I’d put in a transfer request I’d have been terrified of George Graham and I would have sat in the reserves for four months.

“Leeds United were also in for me a lot. Howard Wilknson was the manager there at that time. That was a successful Rangers team. It would have suited me.”

rangers malmo
General view outside the stadium prior to the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg match between Rangers FC and Sporting Braga at Ibrox Stadium on February 20, 2020 in Glasgow, United… (Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Successful career

Merson, who now works as a pundit for Sky Sports, had a very successful playing career.

The former England international won the league title twice with Arsenal, and the FA Cup, the League Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup once each.

The Englishman, who played for Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and Portsmouth among other clubs, would have been a huge success at Rangers or at Leeds if he had moved to Ibrox or Elland Road when he had the chance to.

Alex Dodd – CameraSport/CameraSport via Getty Images