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Manchester United, Arsenal 'keeping tabs on Rangers starlet Jack Wylie'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 01 December 2022

Man United, Arsenal 'keeping tabs on Rangers starlet Jack Wylie'

Manchester United and Arsenal reportedly prepare to battle one another for the signature of 15-year-old Rangers starlet Jack Wylie.

Manchester United and Arsenal are reportedly both keeping track of 15-year-old Rangers starlet Jack Wylie.

The 2007-born defender is yet to make his first-team debut for the Ibrox giants, but he has been catching the eye with a string of stellar performances at youth level.

Wylie has already won the Under-16 Scottish Football Association's CAS Cup with Rangers, who defeated Celtic in the final earlier in November with the midfielder's help.

Wylie has also been capped at Under-16 level for Scotland, and he earned praise for his performance against Denmark earlier this year, reportedly leading to interest from a number of clubs.

According to the Daily Star, Man United and Arsenal are both in the race to sign Wylie, who has also been earmarked as an ideal acquisition for his versatility.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured on November 12, 2022 © Reuters

The 15-year-old is capable of filling in at centre-back, right-back or in midfield for club and country, and Arsenal are said to have been tracking him for several months.

The report adds that the Gunners sent their chief scout to keep tabs on Wylie during Scotland's aforementioned Under-16s clash with Denmark, and Erik ten Hag has now instructed representatives to monitor him at domestic level.

However, Rangers are understandably hoping to ward off interest from Man United and Arsenal with a new contract for Wylie, although they are fearful that they could be forced to concede defeat.

The Gers are aware of the attraction that the Premier League holds, having reluctantly sanctioned a £350,000 move to Aston Villa for Rory Wilson recently.

Man United and Arsenal are both expected to be active in the January transfer window, as the Red Devils search for a successor to Cristiano Ronaldo, who left the club by mutual consent earlier this month.

General view inside Old Trafford before the match on January 10, 2022 © Reuters

The 37-year-old took aim at Ten Hag, the Glazer family and various elements of the club in an explosive interview with Piers Morgan, which spelled the end of his second stint at Old Trafford.

PSV Eindhoven and Netherlands attacker Cody Gakpo is understood to be their main target, and Man United are said to be confident about their chances of sealing a January deal.

Meanwhile, a new midfielder and winger could be on Arsenal's agenda, as Mikel Arteta's side aim to maintain their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table after the World Cup.

A recent report claimed that Arsenal believe that they have won the race to sign Shakhtar Donetsk's Mykhaylo Mudryk, while Chelsea's Christian Pulisic has also been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Palmeiras' Danilo and Leicester City's Youri Tielemans are understood to be two key midfield targets of Arteta's, and the latter will be out of contract at the King Power Stadium at the end of the season.