It seems as though Arsenal and U.S. national team youngster Gedion Zelalem is heading to Scotland.
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The 18-year-old midfielder, who scored this beauty for Arsenal’s U-21 side on Monday, looks set to join Glasgow Rangers on loan for the season with BBC Scotland reporting that he is in Glasgow for a medical and an announcement is expected later this week.
ProSoccerTalk has contacted Arsenal for information regarding the deal and they indicated nothing has been confirmed.
Zelalem featured for Arsenal’s first team during preseason but the promising talent is unlikely to get minutes with them during the current Premier League campaign.
Last May following Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Manchester United, ProSoccerTalk asked Wenger about a potential loan move for Zelalem coming up.
So, it seems like Wenger has made that assesment and the man who pledged his internationl allegiance to the U.S. over Germany earlier this year could join a long list of Americans such as DaMarcus Beasley, Carlos Bocanegra and Alejandro Bedoya in playing for Rangers.
Would the level of Scotland’s second-tier, the Championship, be a good fit for him? It would certainly toughen him up, as he has all the skill in the world on the ball but working with former Brentford boss Mark Warburton at Rangers and helping the financially stricken Scottish giants to return to the top-flight following their shocking demotion to the fourth-tier in 2012 could be a good experience for the German-born star.
After excelling for the U.S. U-20s during their World Cup run this summer and proving he can shine for Arsenal’s U-21 side, this would be the next step in Zelalem’s development in proving that the former Maryland native can cut it in the pro game and fulfill his huge potential for club and country.