Glasgow Rangers have been linked with a move for the 18-year-old striker
A report in the Birmingham Mail has suggested that Rangers would be able to sign Aston Villa starlet Rushian Hepburn-Murphy for as little as around £226,000 next month.
The Mail reports that the 18-year-old is on the Gers’ radar as Mark Warburton seeks further deals for younger players nearing the end of their contracts in England, just as he did with Josh Windass and Matt Crooks in the summer.
Rangers manager Mark Warburton
By signing a player who plays for a club from another country, Rangers are able to exploit a loophole in FIFA’s regulations that will seemingly enable them to bag a bargain should they be able to sign the striker – who is out of contract with the Championship side at the end of the season – on a pre-contract deal during the January transfer window (via Mail).
The Mail explains that Villa are entitled to compensation due to the fact that he has spent the previous decade training with the Midlands outfit, though it is only the years after he turned 12 that contribute to the overall fee.
Aston Villa’s Rushian Hepburn Murphy in action
To make matters worse, the Mail adds that the money for Hepburn-Murphy would only be due after he reaches the age of 23, which is still nearly five years away.
Although the youngster has not really been given the chance to impress for the Villans’ first-team, there is no question that his performances for the club’s under-23 side suggest that he has a bright future ahead.
He has scored five times in eight games for the development side this term. And if he can continue to develop his game while keeping his clear eye for goal, it seems likely that Rangers will reflect that bringing him to Ibrox was a brilliant piece of business, should they manage to get a deal across the line.
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