Reports: Deal to be offered as Celtic and Rangers battle for £2m-rated ace available for £150K
By Richard Parks
Sunderland are set to offer central midfielder Ethan Robson a new contract to fend off interest from Scottish big guns Celtic and Rangers, according to reports.
Sunderland fans blog Roker Report, which is a reliable source of news about the club, claim on Thursday that the Championship strugglers are to table a fresh deal to the 21-year-old.
It is said that Robson is in “no rush” to commit his future to the Black Cats as both parties prepare to start negotiations.
This comes after the Scottish Sun reported last weekend that the Glasgow giants are both closely monitoring developments with Robson as they eye a cut-price signing when his contract expires in the summer.
It is reported by the newspaper that he is valued at around the £2million price but can be prised from the Stadium of Light in a few months’ time for just £150,000 in training compensation.
Robson has made six Sunderland first-team appearances, including league starts against Birmingham and Hull in January, after graduating through the club’s ranks and captaining the Under-23s.
But he has sparked interest in other clubs taking him this summer after failing to agree a new deal.
Football Insider verdict:
Rangers were the busier of the two giants in January but recent results have showed both teams still need improving, whether through the transfer market or coaching on the training ground. Celtic have the greater resources, but Rangers can offer a quicker pathway to the first team. Robson is a player of great potential who is at an age when he needs to be playing regularly. He has showed in recent starts that he can cut it in the English second tier, and could be a great capture for either of the Scottish big hitters, especially at such a bargain price.
In other Rangers transfer news, it can be revealed that a key first teamer has sensationally asked to leave after the board failed to stick to their promise of giving him a new deal during the transfer window.
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