Rangers Eye More Domestic Talent as Zebedee Lawson Deal Nears Completion
Journalist Joshua Barrie has claimed that Glasgow Rangers plan to make more signings from the domestic markets in Scotland and England this summer than they did in the previous window.
This strategy shift has sparked mixed reactions among supporters, especially considering that past signings such as Kieran Dowell and Ben Davies have since become surplus to requirements at Ibrox.
Despite those setbacks, Rangers have enjoyed notable success with bargain signings from England in recent years.
Two of the standout examples are Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo, both of whom were brought in on relatively low-cost deals and went on to have significant impacts at the club. With that in mind, the Light Blues appear ready to strike again in the English market.
According to Football Insider, Rangers have reached an agreement to sign 16-year-old Zebedee Lawson from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.
The young winger has been described as a “sensation” by journalist Pete O’Rourke and is said to be highly regarded at Brighton.
The report suggests that Rangers have beaten off competition from several clubs to secure Lawson’s signature, making it a “major coup” for the Scottish Premiership side.
The move echoes Rangers’ successful recruitment of Calvin Bassey from Leicester City in 2020.
Signed for just £230,000, Bassey took time to find his feet in Glasgow, making only eight league appearances in his first season.
However, under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the versatile Nigerian international emerged as a regular starter in the 2021/22 campaign, playing both as a centre-back and left-back.
That breakout year saw his value skyrocket, culminating in a high-profile £22.7 million transfer to Ajax in 2022.
Now, Rangers appear hopeful that Lawson could follow a similar trajectory. Like Bassey, Lawson is leaving a midtable Premier League academy to seek greater opportunities and development at Ibrox.
At just 16 years of age, the teenager made his breakthrough at the U18 level for Brighton, recording three goals and an assist in 13 appearances as a right winger.
That level of productivity at such a young age has clearly caught the attention of talent scouts in Scotland.
While there are no guarantees that Lawson will mirror Bassey’s rise to prominence and market value, Rangers have shown a knack for identifying potential in overlooked young players.
They will now be hoping that Lawson can continue his promising development in Glasgow and grow into a first-team star over the coming years.
This potential transfer aligns with Rangers’ renewed focus on the English and Scottish markets.
The club appears intent on avoiding expensive flops by instead investing in high-upside prospects who can be nurtured through the system.
If Lawson fulfils his promise, he could be the latest in a growing list of young English imports who flourish north of the border under the Ibrox spotlight.
Ultimately, Lawson’s arrival underlines Rangers’ intent to blend future potential with strategic recruitment, and if history repeats itself, he could prove to be another Bassey-esque masterstroke.
