As many as four Premier League clubs reportedly had a vested interest as Rangers kid Archie Stevens took to the field v Celtic.
The English youth international, 18, is reportedly a player in high-demand and the right-winger started the U18s clash against our Old Firm rivals.
But Archie Stevens and his young Rangers teammates were left bitterly disappointed after Celtic’s academy side romped to a 3-1 victory at the club’s training centre.
The result comes after Rangers pulled their B side from the Lowland League set-up at the beginning of the season.
Who is Archie Stevens?
Archie Stevens is a name which won’t be overly familiar to too many Rangers supporters.
But it is one which could potentially excite the Ibrox club’s fans in the future with substantial Premier League interest reported in the player.
In fact, Rangers are even said to have held off some top interest to convince Archie Stevens to move to Ibrox at a crucial juncture of his career.
As explained by the ex-AFC Wimbledon talent himself, Rangers, quite simply, blew him away when the interest was recognised in the summer of 2022.
It’s a move which has been fruitful for the kid too, Stevens called up to the England U17s squad in November for the FIFA U17s World Cup.
“I had options but Rangers really stood out,” Archie Stevens told the official Rangers website last summer. “It is such a massive club with the history and fanbase and there is a pathway to the first-team.
“The facilities, the training and coaching just stood out for me from the first day.
“A lot of big clubs think they have the best facilities but when you come up here, look around and see what is on offer, it is something you can’t turn down.
“I just love the history of the club and it’s something I haven’t really seen before. I knew straight away how big the club was and it amazed me when I actually came here.
“There are a lot of clubs with modern stadiums but you can feel the history as soon as you walk into Ibrox. I had never seen anything like it and me and my family really loved that about the club when we first visited.
“The Hall of Fame Board, the Marble Staircase – it’s all incredible.
“I know what I am playing for. It’s a massive opportunity for me here and was something I just couldn’t turn down.”
Rangers talented wanted in Premier League
Now this is certainly the attitude we want to see our young Rangers players display and it’s encouraging the Ibrox side managed to secure Archie Stevens’ two years ago.
But that Premier League interest has not gone away and as Stevens took to the pitch against Celtic, four clubs in the English top flight are said to be keeping tabs on the kid.
Only last month were the likes of Brighton, Wolves, Nottingham Forest, and Fulham said to be in a four-way fight for the young Rangers talent’s signature.
With the lure of the Premier League millions proving too strong for the likes of Billy Gilmour and Rory Wilson, and even Nathan Young Coombes, Rangers are used to having their top talent poached by the English top flight.
But so long as Archie Stevens remains at Rangers then he’s a Rangers player and the start v Celtic continues the kid’s encouraging development in Glasgow.
