By RYAN TOLMICH
Gedion Zelalem is reportedly nearing a loan deal to join one of Scotland’s most storied clubs.
STV Sport reported Tuesday that the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team midfielder is nearing a loan move to join Rangers. Zelalem is reportedly set to hold talks with the club within the next 24 hours.
Zelalem, who joined Arsenal in 2013, had previously stated his desires to stay and battle for first-team opportunities with the English powerhouse, but did admit he would welcome a loan in a bid for more playing time.
“I’m going to go back for pre-season and try to get into the first team and play some games,” Zelalem said earlier this summer. “If I can do that, great. If not, I’ll look to get out on loan somewhere. It’s a dream come true to be at a club like Arsenal and I want to get into the first team this season, play minutes and start matches.”
After joining the club on its preseason tour, Zelalem scored a game-winning goal for the Arsenal Under-21s to defeat Fulham this past weekend. On the senior level, Zelalem has made two appearances for the club, but has yet to earn his Premier League debut.
In Rangers, Zelalem would feature in the Scottish second division, as the club continues to battle back up the league ranks. Liquidated in 2012 due to financial troubles, Rangers had battled back from the fourth division with consecutive promotions before finishing third in the Scottish Championship last season.
Zelalem would be the fifth American to feature at Rangers should the deal go through, following in the footsteps of DaMarcus Beasley, Alejandro Bedoya, Carlos Bocanegra, Maurice Edu and Claudio Reyna.
What do you think of the potential move for Zelalem? How would he fare at Rangers?
Share your thoughts below.
Here is a wee tip for you Les. Don’t come on an American website slandering the great nation of USA and then talk about xenophoboa.
You are British. Deal with it.
Slander, Bubbles? I think you need to find a dictionary and look up the definition of ‘slander’. Is it slander to say America has committed atrocities in the last 50 or 60 years? No. The My Lai massacre in Vietnam, the No Gun Ri atrocity in the Korean war and the literally countless massacres and killings of men, women and children in Afghanistan and Iraq since the first Gulf War would indicate that it is indeed not slanderous to accuse the US of atrocities. They are well documented. As are the atrocities committed by Great Britain, although as a Scot the sooner we are independent the better. The English are just as bad as the US for warmongering.
Haha Les the irony of talking about knuckle dragging then using sectarian slurs against those you perceive to be evangelical christians that protest against the Vatican cult. Scotland does hate us I know as I witness it. The quintessential British football club in a country being hoodwinked by National Socialists determined to break up the UK. Which they failed 🙂
Inferiority Complexes, they aren’t good for your health Bheasts.
Typical hunnery… I’m surprised you can all walk upright what with the dragging knuckles and brass neck. Scotland hates you. You might be able to pull the wool over the eyes of a few yanks but closer to home we all know what a putrid, vile mess your club is.
Still hoping the young USA starlet decides to further his football education at Rangers.
Meanwhile our rivals toil with a narrow victory in Europe against a poor Swedish side whose support have also heard of the Bheastly paedophilia rife at Celtic. When Swedes sing “hey Celtic, leave those kids alone” in English you realise that the cover-up of decades of child-abuse at Parkhead hasn’t worked.
God Save The Queen
Rivals? Celtic play in Europe and the premier league. They are scottish league and league cup champions. Rangers play in the lower divisions and currently hold no major honours. They are anything but rivals. They are miles ahead of you. They are where you aspire to be. And you know it fine well.
Dear lord. Scots, can you please take it elsewhere? We’re interested in reading about Zelalem, not your tiresome bickering.
Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
“All I can say when I try to imagine what it will be like at Ibrox is Ooh la la!’ I played against Rangers at Ibrox with Chelsea in the summer and we lost 2-0, I have told Perrin that the atmosphere at Ibrox is absolutely magical. To my way of appreciating football, its truly really beautiful. That’s how to support your team!”
Drogba goes on “Lyon played at Celtic a couple of seasons ago but Ibrox will be completely different!”
Thierry Henry (FC Barcelona)
“I know the atmosphere that’s generated here and that makes it tough for any team. I thought the fans were unbelievable again.
“They were not swearing or shouting stupid things, they pushed their team forward and that’s great to see.”
Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
“The Rangers fans were awesome, all the lads were talking about it,” said Lampard.
“The reception I got when I went to take corners during the game, and after when we were going off, was really nice.
“They certainly love their own team, but it was very special to get that welcome. It was amazing really, and a very good game to play in for us, certainly the best friendly we’ve had.
“With that kind of backing from their crowd, they will be hard to beat. And I expect to see Rangers in the Champions League.
Hernan Crespo (AC Milan)
“I’ve played at Ibrox –the atmosphere in Scottish stadiums is sensational.”
Lionel Letizi (PSG)
“I’d been told about the incredible atmosphere but could not believe how loud it was.
“When we arrived and walked out on to the pitch, the stadium was empty because we were early.
“We went back inside to change and when we walked into the tunnel we could hear a rumbling noise.
“And when we went back on to the pitch I could not believe my ears. The sound was terrifying and the game had not even started yet.
“I then had to walk to my goal and when the referee blew his whistle to start the match the sound which came from the stand at my back almost knocked me over.
“It was amazing and I am really looking forward to experiencing this again – as a Rangers player.”
Henning Berg (When at Rangers)
“The atmosphere was better than anything I experienced at Old Trafford, even better than playing Juventus there. I will never forget this night.
Dado Prso (Monaco)
“The atmosphere was incomparable, and I had goosebumps throughout the match,” he said of the 2-2 draw, despite spending the first 56 minutes on the bench.
Since then, I have never experienced anything as intense in any of the other European stadia I’ve played football in. Rangers are the club I needed to join. They are a club in my own image, and their ambitions are on the same level as my own.”
Gary Neville (Manchester United)
“This was the loudest atmosphere that I have known, compared to any English ground away from home.
“There have been certain nights at Old Trafford in European games – the ones against Juventus comes to mind – when the atmosphere was incredible.
“But this was definitely up there with the best. It was fantastic.
“When we came out at the start I was looking around me and I saw people in the directors’ box jumping up singing and I was wondering what was happening. It is not usually like that.
“The crowd beating us was never going to happen – but thank goodness they didn’t score.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United)
“I’ll never forget that night we played there. The atmosphere was unbelievable, very hostile.
Villarreal will think they’ve experienced a lot of good atmospheres but I really think the Rangers support could startle them.
Marcos Senna (Villarreal)
“Usually players don’t even hear supporters when we play but it was impossible to ignore the crowd in Glasgow.
“When they scored, the noise was amazing, incredible. It was a very beautiful spectacle.
“I could almost say I was not totally sad when they scored – that crowd deserved it.
“It seems there will be 6000 Rangers fans here but only 4000 will get into the stadium. Well, it’s going to be noisy inside and out.
“Their fans are great and it will help them but it was a lot noisier at Ibrox than it will be at our ground. The Madrigal fans support us a lot but in a different way.”
Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Barcelona)
“It is not just made up that players can suffer from an intimidating atmosphere when they play at visiting grounds.
“I know from Ruud (Ruud van Nistelrooy) that when we beat PSV at Ibrox in the Champions League he thought it was very frightening. He said it was one of the most atmospheric matches he had ever experienced – and now he has to face it again. For him to come back to Ibrox it will be the same experience.
“I know that Manchester United’s players face all the biggest games and full stadiums everywhere, but I think most of them will find this Wednesday night at Ibrox a really different atmosphere.
“I’ve played in England and I don’t think that any stadium in the Premiership can compare with Ibrox for its intimidating atmosphere – it is far above them.”
few players talking about Rangers and our fans:
Goodness knows. They also fundraise outside the ground for IRA and PLO terrorists with impunity. Their irrational hatred of their own country makes them despise anyone the British are seen to be allies with ie USA, Israel. Celtic were the Glasgow team formed purely for sectarian purposes whilst Rangers were born from 4 boys having a dream nothing to do with politics, relegion or race.
Google Mark Warburton our new manager and read of his philosophy. Then witness it on Sunday. Bocanegra, Edu, Beadley, Reyna are just a few names of Americans who have fell in live with Rangers. In a left wing Britain today with political correctness gone mad, Rangers are he last bastion of patriotism to the UK and you will also see a few USA flags in the crowd. I hope you can catch us on Sunday.
That is horrible. What has Palestine got to do with a Scottish soccer team?
Do they do this just to get a reaction?
I’ll have a look at the listings to see if I can get it. You may have a new Glasgow Rangers fan here
Landon it is sad to admit but Celtic fans regularly fly PLO, Palestine and ISIS flags at their games. Their anti semitc chants are a regular theme at games also.
I guarantee any of you American guys he will have a great learning curve at Rangers with the support by far the biggest in Scotland, passionate and intense not to mention the media attention. He will play under one of the finest up and coming coaches in the world playing jaw dropping football.
I believe the game on Sunday v Hibs is being shown on US tv. Please take the chance to witness first hand the football and style on show.
I have to say I have little to no knowledge of Scottish soccer but having googled a bit about Glasgow Rangers I think he’ll do just fine there.
They have a huge support and by the looks of it a great stadium. Wenger wouldn’t send him to those guys if he thought it would hurt his career and come on, Wenger knows more about soccer than all of us put together.
Interesting to hear from you fans about the Old Firm derby, it looks and sounds intense.
I’m part Irish, Swedish and Polish and a practising Jew. I find it insane that Celtic fans called for a pro to be kicked out of the game for showing his support to Israel. The 9/11 insults are nothing short of sickening.
Not a CCeltic supporter bwahahaha. So a juniot football fan obsesses over Rangers on US sites to smear Rangers. You call Bheast FC Scotlands biggest club. Deary me. You aren’t even Glasgows big club.
Your club had its ground closed for supporting the Nazis.
Tell me Les. Would you have called the Police to report the systematic rape of young bhoys. If so, why did big dirty Jock not do so?
What are your views on ISIS? What are your views on the PLO? What are your views on Lee Rogbys murderers?
I am not obsessing, I was stating an opinion that is well-held in Scotland. Even rangers fans themselves say, ‘We are hated, we don’t care’ etc etc… No one likes you. As for my views on ISIS and Lee Rigby’s murder. I think one is an abhorrent organisation with a twisted, dark interpretation of Islam and the other was an evil act that has no place in Society. I also think that Israel is a facist state, look at Jenin and the numerous cases of overkill. Armoured vehicles and Apache gunships killing kids armed with stones. All funded by America who itself is guilty of numerous atrocities the world over for the last 5 or 6 decades.
I can see why the world is increasingly looking on the Palestinians’ struggle with sympathy.
But that is neither here nor there. Rangers are always playing the ‘Everyone hates us card and it is a conspiracy’…
There is no conspiracy BUT, we do all hate you. Why? For me it has nothing to do with religion or nationality. Because you evoke hatred in people through your actions. Arrogant, racist and xenophobic. You are no benefit to Scotland and most of you have nothing but disdain for the country of your birth. Thankfully the financial mess still ensnares that midden. Next time let’s hope you stay dead.
SBI regulars let me take this opportunity to apologise glr your website being targeted by Bheast FC fans. You see this story is about Rangers and one of the USA’s shining lights. Bheasts daily scour the Internet to spreas lies, falsehoods and propaganda against Rangers simply because their inferiority complex eats away at them.
As an Irishman myself, I should clarify that Rangers have no issue at all woth the Irish themselves however Scotland has a sizeable diaspora of what we call “Plastic Paddies”. They know next to nothing about Irish history ot politics but hate all things British because they say their Grandparents told them stories. While Americam, British an allied troops defend the world from tyranny and oppression these people slander our troops as murderers amd ethnic cleansers. At a recent gane against Kilmarnock, Celtic fans displayed 2 ISIS flags. When a British hero soldier Lee Rigby was beheaded by crazy Islamic nutjobs, the Celtic fans crrated a song to mock his death. As mentioned, these marxist zealots mocked USA captain Claudio Reyna with aeroplane gestures soon after 9/11. Again as touched upon, thwor fans disgracefully abuse their own player Nir Biton for having the audacity to show his support for his native Israel. These people are the lowest of the low and their pseudo liberal/left wing charade is nothing but a cover for their fascism. Perhaps Rangers ROI international s should be asked if they jave experienced any of this mythical Irish racism.
On the day their team gets put out of CL they are on US websites slandering Rangers. They are obsessed.
PS God Bless America. The land of the free.
Les James. Racist fans towards the Irish? Are the Irish a race now? Deary me. Perhaps if the Celtic support never displayed support and fundraised for baby killers, eyhnoc cleansers and Nazi collaboraters the indigenous Scottish would be more civil.
Rangers are the ONLY show in town. As you will see tonight.
I am no Celtic supporter, I actually support my junior team. I know people of both sides of the old firm and there is no doubt that those who follow rangers and ‘the Union’ are definitely more intolerant, xenophobic and racist. Ask most neutrals and they will say the same.
I agree with those fans who abused Nir Bitton for his views because Israel is a modern fascist state, not just Celtic fans that think that, most of the Arab world and the EU does as well. The numerous atrocities are testament to this. Good on the Celtic fans for calling him out. Maybe if the Rangers fans were as quick to condemn their own for behaviour that crosses the line then they wouldn’t be in the mess that they are. You sat back while Ibrox burned. You lauded Murray while he was openly cooking the books. You canonized Charles Green when that rest of the world could see what a snake he was. You deified ‘Super’ Ally when all he was doing was lining his own pockets at your expense. Even a neutral can see what a whore he was. You need to take a long good look at yourselves. Even neutrals say you have shamed Scottish sport. Sure, Celtic are up themselves as well but not in the same way as your crowd. At least they aren’t actually dangerous. Rangers fans en-masse are just a thuggish mob acting like it is the last days of Rome… many Mancunians will know this all too well.
As an American I have a fairly new experience of Soccer but I still feel that this is a bad move for one of our brightest talents. Having spent some time googling Rangers I must admit theyseem a pretty unsavoury club. Lots of their supporters have commented on here and they are aggressive and intolerant. How will Gedion benefit playing for these ‘fans’. He should stay at Arsenal or at least go to another Scottish club where his development will be aided with good moral values and character building. Rangers seem to want break people down all the time; not build character in a young player. Sorry if you are a rangers fan, just what I have got from the internet and speaking to people who know the game better than I. Whatever you decide…. GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS YOU, GEDION!!
Apologies, that should read *****SQUANDERED 75 MILLION IN 3 YEARS*****