Kenny McLean avoids question about joining Rangers this summer, admits previous Ibrox interest

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Norwich City midfielder Kenny McLean has told Open Goal that there was talk of joining Rangers in 2018, but nothing ever really came of it.

McLean was featuring for Aberdeen at the time. He had hit 14 goals in his first two full seasons as an Aberdeen player, and Rangers rumours started.

The Scottish Sun claimed that Rangers wanted McLean in 2017, but they were ultimately unable to strike a deal with Aberdeen as the midfielder ran down his contract.

Many expected Rangers to return for McLean in January 2018. A pre-contract agreement could have been an option, but the midfielder headed to England instead.

Norwich City secured McLean’s signature before loaning him back to Aberdeen. He ended up featuring as Norwich won promotion last season, and has played in the Premier League for the Canaries this season.

McLean’s decision appears to have been the right one. As a boyhood Rangers fan and ex-Gers youth prospect, a move to Ibrox would have appealed, but he claims that it was never on the table.

McLean firstly – and rather wisely – dodged the question of whether he is joining Rangers this summer, with Paul Slane claiming he has heard strong rumours that the Gers will finally land him. McLean likely knew that whatever he said would snowball, so kept quiet on that subject.

He then admitted that a move to Rangers could have happened a couple of times, but talks never really produced any concrete offer, even in the final months of his Aberdeen deal.

McLean added that the club appeared to have little stability when Graeme Murty was in charge, which may well have been part of the reason he didn’t hold out for Rangers and joined Norwich instead.

“It could have been,” said McLean. “There was talk a couple of times about Rangers, but nothing ever came of it. Nothing was ever in front of me, even when I was out of contract at Aberdeen, I had six months left on my deal and there was talks but nothing too big to be honest with you, nothing for me to get excited about, because there was nothing ever in front of me.

“I don’t know if it was Graeme Murty in charge at the time when I was leaving Aberdeen, but they didn’t look to have any stability at the club. Obviously, since Gerrard has come in, it seems to have changed a little,” he added.