Sources: Rangers may pull out of Joseph race after Celtic submit offer
Rangers may pull the plug on their pursuit of Wigan Athletic striker Kyle Joseph as Celtic rival Newcastle United for a deal, Football Insider has learned.
Joseph, 19, has attracted strong interest from the Glasgow giants and Premier League elite after snubbing the League One club's offer of a new deal.
Football Insider revealed last week that Celtic are still in contact over signing him after offering a long-term contract.
This comes after Newcastle were reported to be the new favourites for Joseph, 19, following talks with his representatives.
Rangers have sounded out the teenage star as they assessed a potential pre-contract deal.
But they may now pull out of the race to leave the coast clear for Celtic and Newcastle.
The manager-less Hoops are still working on luring top young talent ahead of the summer window and have moved to try and wrap up an early deal for Joseph.
It would see the rising star head to Glasgow at the end of the season, with a compensation fee of just £300,000 paid to Wigan.
Newcastle and Tottenham would have to pay a higher price of close to £1m as they do not benefit from cross-border rules.
Football Insider revealed that month that Tottenham are compiling a dossier on the young forward before deciding whether to push ahead with a formal offer.
Joseph, who has been sidelined since late January with a back injury, is a Scotland youth international and has made waves in League One.
The London-born youngster, who has been capped at Scotland at Under-19 level, did not make his debut until October and then banged in five goals from just 14 league appearances.