Rangers manager Mark Warburton is looking to take further advantage of FIFA rules by adding the Aston Villa prodigy to his Ibrox ranks for next-to-nothing.
Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers are eyeing a cut-price deal for Aston Villa striker Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, according to the Daily Mail.
Hepburn-Murphy has been in fine form for the Villans’ Under-23s this season, prompting calls for him to be included in Steve Bruce’s first-team plans.
The 18-year-old is out of contract at Villa Park next summer, and the report states that although Villa are looking to tie him to a new deal, negotiations have reached an impasse.
Were Hepburn-Murphy to move to another English club, Villa would be entitled to a likely tribunal fee of seven figures.
However, Rangers are reportedly looking to take advantage of FIFA rules that enable out-of-contract English-based players, who are under the age of 24, to sign for Scottish clubs for minimal compensation.
The same rules allowed the Ibrox side to acquire English talents Jordan Rossiter and Joe Dodoo for a combined £500,000 fee during the summer transfer window.
Hepburn-Murphy could sign a pre-contract agreement with Rangers, or any other non-English club, as early as January 2017.
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