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Should Celtic, Rangers consider Leeds’ Eunan O’Kane?

General view of Elland Road before the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road on February 25, 2017 ...
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Should Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers and Celtic try bringing Leeds United’s Eunan O’Kane to the Scottish Premiership?

John McGinn of Hibernian in action during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Hibernian at Ibrox Stadium on August 12, 2017 in Glasgow, Scotland.

The prospect of Rangers or Celtic signing John McGinn this summer is growing increasingly unlikely.

The Record reported this month that new Rangers boss Steven Gerrard wanted the Scotland midfielder at Ibrox, while Celtic are also linked with him [The Express].

Problem is, the 23-year-old is starting to attract attention South of the border – first with West Ham United in January, and now The Sun claims that Championship side Leeds United may be interested.

Proving himself in English football – especially the Premier League – must be a huge draw for any player who excels in the Scottish Premiership and if Leeds are genuinely interested then it could be ominous for the Old Firm sides.

Hypothetically, McGinn’s arrival at Leeds could free up a certain Eunan O’Kane, and Rangers and Celtic should soften the blow of missing the Hibs man by considering the Irish midfielder.

Eunan O'Kane of Leeds United and Charlie Mulgrew during the Sky Bet Championship match between Blackburn Rovers and Leeds United at Ewood Park on February 1, 2017 in Blackburn, England

O’Kane endured a disappointing second half of the Whites’ season and seems to be the most likely candidate to leave West Yorkshire if United sign somebody of a similar mould.

Derry-born O’Kane, a seven-time Republic of Ireland international, has a background which may indicate that he might consider a move to Celtic, but by the same token he surely wouldn’t turn up his nose at a move to Ibrox either.

He told The Liverpool Echo in 2014 that he idolised Gerrard during his legendary stint at Anfield and one would assume that playing under his hero in Glasgow would be a considerable draw for him.

O’Kane’s struggles in the Championship this calendar year means little for his capacity to impress in Scotland and if McGinn – valued at £5 million [Daily Mail] – does slip through Rangers and Celtic’s fingers, maybe the 27-year-old is a viable alternative.