Shrewsbury Town have surprisingly secured the signing of Halim Bakre after the teenager underwent trials at Rangers and Premier League giants Aston Villa, as reported by AllNigeriaSoccer.
As Rangers bask in the glory of arguably the greatest result enjoyed by any Scottish club in European football history, Bakre’s decision to join a club limping along in England’s third tier is unlikely to awake them from their Sambuca-tinged stupor.
But if Bakre succeeds in living up to comparisons with a certain Wilfried Zaha, then this could be a classic case of one-that-got-away as far as Giovanni van Bronckhorst is concerned.
AllNigeriaSoccer claim that Bakre recently underwent trials at Rangers, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa. European champions Chelsea even expressed an interest.
The former Brighton and Hove Albion starlet has opted to put pen to paper with Shrewsbury Town instead, however, signing a contract hovering just four points above the relegation zone and in danger of dropping into the fourth-tier.
Why did Rangers and Aston Villa not sign Halim Bakre?
Perhaps Bakre feels that first-team opportunities will be more forthcoming at Shrewsbury.
Steve Cotterill’s struggling side certainly need an injection of attacking impetus. They’ve scored just three goals in nine league games since thumping relegation rivals Fleetwood Town 3-0 away from home on Boxing Day.
It is not certain whether Bakre was also offered a contract by Rangers, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough or Chelsea.
Aston Villa, in particular, have made it their mission to lure the most exciting young talent in English football to Bodymoor Heath in recent times. The Midland giants, now coached by ex-Rangers boss Steven Gerrard, have already expressed an interest in Millwall defender Chinwike Okoli.
Aston Villa won the FA Youth Cup last season too, with Cameron Archer, Carney Chukwuemeka and Jaden Philogene-Bidace rewarded with a well-deserved first-team debut.
Ben Chrisene, scorer of the opening goal in that 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the Youth Cup final last May, could be the next to make his bow.
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