An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their attempts to improve their academy side ahead of the January transfer window...

What's the talk?

According to the Daily Record, the Light Blues are eyeing up a swoop to sign 15-year-old striker James Wilson from Hearts next month.

The report claims that the Gers are set to open talks with the teenager over a potential move to Ibrox as he can officially sign professional terms when he turns 16 in January.

It is stated that Hearts are fighting to keep hold of the talented youngster and are trying to convince him that his long-term future should be with them, rather than Rangers.

Steven Naismith 2.0

Gers head coach Michael Beale could unearth his own version of former Light Blues forward Steven Naismith by signing Wilson and bringing him through into the first-team set-up in the coming years.

Naismith arrived at Ibrox from Kilmarnock as a youngster before plundering 33 goals and 30 assists in 132 appearances in all competitions for Rangers, whilst playing as a striker or as a second striker.

The now-retired attacker won six trophies with the club, including three top-flight titles and three cup successes, and knows what it takes to succeed as a forward in Glasgow.

He went on to play for Norwich and Everton in England before returning to the Premiership with Hearts, where he is now the under-18 head coach.

The Daily Record claim that he has been working with Wilson this season and the former Scotland international could be imparting his knowledge to the teenager, given that he played in the same position as the current prodigy and knows Rangers inside and out.

There are no statistics available on the gem's goalscoring record for Hearts at youth level but the club did name him as their Academy Player of the Season for the 2021/22 campaign, which indicates that he enjoyed a strong year in front of goal.

Wilson, who has been called up by Scotland and Northern Ireland's youth teams at international level, has clearly shown enough to warrant Rangers' interest in him and, therefore, could have the potential to make the step up to the first-team in the future.

This means that he could follow Naismith's Gers story by arriving at the club as a young player and going on to be a success in front of goals in the future, if he is able to develop under Beale and make the grade with the senior squad in the coming years.