Sources: Zak Lovelace tells friends he’s joining Rangers as six-figure deal agreed
Rangers have reached a full agreement with Millwall striker Zak Lovelace and he is set to sign next week, Football Insider understands.
The 16-year-old has accepted a contract offer from the Europa League finalists ahead of rival interest from Premier League clubs.
Ibrox sources have told Football Insider that there is a full agreement in place and Lovelace is believed to have told friends he is headed to the Glasgow giants for a medical and to complete the move.
He will join for a six-figure compensation fee, with Rangers taking advantage of cross-border rules to land the rising star on the cheap.
Lovelace will become a free agent from 1 July but Millwall are due to developments costs for bringing him through the ranks into their first team.
Remarkably, the teenager made his first-team debut last December at the age of 15 and has already made four Championship appearances.
It is a real coup for Rangers, given Lovelace’s precocity and the rivals trying to sign him.
Premier League sides Brighton and Leicester were reportedly monitoring the teenager following his impressive form at youth level – with 21 goals in 19 games – which earned him a first-team spot.
One advantage the Scottish outfit have over Premier League teams is a clearer pathway to senior football.
Manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst is said to be excited by Lovelace’s potential and sees him as potential member of the first-team squad for next season.
In other news, McLeish can’t believe ‘scary’ update in Rangers bid to sign Colak.