Rangers offered just £300,000 to sign McLean from bitter rivals Aberdeen in the summer – and now he could sign a new contract.
Three of Pedro Caixinha’s transfer targets are in a precious position heading into the January transfer window. St Mirren winger Lewis Morgan, Hearts talisman Jamie Walker and Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean are all free-agents at the end of the season and have been linked with an early exit in the New Year.
Aberdeen, however, are still hoping that the 25-year-old will commit his future to Pittodrie long term. The Daily Record reported about a month ago that The Dons had entered negotiations with McLean about extending his contract beyond next summer.
And if one of the most impressive players in Scotland last season does indeed sign a new deal with Derek McInnes’ runners-up, the fact that Rangers offered just £300,000 for the midfielder’s services will no doubt come under question.
£300,000 insult
The Gers may have brought in a huge amount of new faces in the summer but it appears that their desire to strike a bargain may have cost them two of the nation’s most exciting prospects.
The Daily Record quoted Jamie Walker as suggesting that he could aim for a bigger move than Rangers in the summer. Caixinha’s side refused to meet Hearts’ £1 million asking price in the summer, leading the 24-year-old to question out loud how committed Rangers really were to bringing to Ibrox.
McLean could be forgiven for thinking the same – especially when Rangers paid £2.5 million to bring the unproven and, until his brace against St Johnstone on Friday, unconvincing Carlos Pena to Glasgow, per the Daily Record.
A £300,000 offer for Aberdeen’s star man was always going to go down like a lead balloon. And with a new contract on the table, Rangers could live to regret their stinginess.
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