The Scotsman journalist Barry Anderson has provided an update on the future of Glasgow Rangers youngster Rory Wilson. 

The lowdown: Star in the making

Born in Girvan, the 16-year-old has been making a name for himself in the youth ranks at Ibrox over the last 12 months.

The centre-forward made four appearances for the Gers' under-19 side in the 2021/22 UEFA Youth League and is already a shining light on the youth international scene.

Having announced his imminent departure from the Glasgow giants, Wilson has been heavily linked with a move to join up with former Teddy Bears manager Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa, and it appears that the proposed move could be edging closer...

The latest: Wilson transfer latest

Taking to Twitter, Anderson reported that the Ibrox teenage sensation is nearing a switch to the Premier League outfit.

He said: “Rory Wilson from Rangers to Aston Villa is progressing. Wilson (16) scored 49 goals at youth level this season for Rangers & Scotland. RFC due a £300,000 development fee. Villa also close to signing Ewan Simpson (15) from Hearts in a £250,000 transfer. #AVFC #Football #Scotland”

The verdict: Blow for Rangers

While it seems almost inevitabile that such a prodigious talent would move on from Ibrox at some stage, losing a talent of Wilson's quality at such a young age is a blow to the project at Rangers.

With eight goals in just 11 Scotland under-17 outings on top of an astonishing campaign which has seem him score 49 goals between club and country at youth level, the prolific young striker was labelled 'clinical' by his coach Brian McLaughlin earlier this year.

Nonetheless, receiving a fee of £300,000 - as suggested by Anderson - would be a boost to the Gers' coffers for a player who was unlikely to make a direct impact on Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side next season, so long as the money is redistributed to the Dutchman's own transfer budget.

In other news: Alex McLeish has had this to say on Nikola Katic’s Ibrox return