---
title: "Glasgow Rangers: Merson admits he could have gone to Rangers"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/glasgow-rangers-paul-merson-ibrox/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "jonathan radcliffe"
section: "Features"
published: "2020-06-23T15:30:26Z"
modified: "2020-06-23T15:30:26Z"
---

# Glasgow Rangers: Merson admits he could have gone to Rangers

**Paul Merson has said that he could have gone to Glasgow Rangers when Walter Smith was the manager of the club.**

Merson had a successful career south of the border, appearing for Arsenal, Walsall, Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Middlesbrough across a career that lasted over 20 years. Not only that, he also made 21 appearances for England during his time as a professional, and managed [126](https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=5392) league goals too.

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Speaking to The Lockdown Tactics Podcast ([via The Herald](https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/18533480.walter-smith-wanted-bring-rangers-didnt-balls-says-paul-merson/)), the 52-year-old admitted that the Gers were interested in him a couple of times, but he wasn’t brave enough make the switch. He said:

> *“The opportunity to join Rangers came up a lot.* *They were always in for me. Walter Smith was the manager. I was playing for Arsenal at that time and I would have probably gone.*
>
> *“But it’s just back then, when you are younger, your agent will say to put in a transfer and you can go. But I didn’t have the balls to do that.*
>
> *“If I’d put in a transfer request I’d have been terrified of George Graham and I would have sat in the reserves for four months.*
>
> *“Leeds United were also in for me a lot. Howard Wilknson was the manager there at that time.*
>
> *“That was a successful Rangers team. It would have suited me.*
>
> *“Anderlecht also came in for me when I was 17. That really turned my head. They were massive at the time, a top European team.”*

Smith was manager of the 54-time Scottish champions from 1991 to 1998 during his first spell, and he was able to attract a number of top quality players such as Brian Laudrup and Paul Gascoigne. Adding Merson to the mix would have only made the Ibrox outfit stronger.

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Merson was well-known for having fantastic technical ability – he wouldn’t have lasted 10 years at Arsenal without it. One can only imagine how exciting it would have been with the Englishman in the mix north of the border.

***Let us know what you think!***