Tony Docherty is not surprised Lyall Cameron is on Rangers’ summer wanted list because he knows first-hand what a top talent he is.
Record Sport broke the story last week that the Dundee midfielder, 22, who is out of contract in the summer, is a top target for the Ibrox side. Dens Park manager Docherty still hasn’t given up hope of getting the Scotland Under-21 cap to extend his contract but admitted that the player has indicated he wants to look at his options.
Cameron would be the second Dundee player to move to one of Glasgow’s big two after 27-year-old midfielder Luke McCowan joined Celtic on the last deadline day. And Docherty said: “Lyall Cameron has been fantastic for this football club. He has been absolutely brilliant and you look at his numbers, he has really kicked on.
“I threw the gauntlet down to him, that with Luke going, that he could step up. He had done that and stepped up to the plate.
“It is no surprise when a player like that is out of contract and there will be interest in him. It is purely speculation at the moment. We have a lot of players, six or seven who are out-of-contract at the end of the season.
“We have identified, as a club, to offer contract extensions and it is then their prerogative what they do with them. A couple have come back and said they will sign and others are exploring their options.
“Lyall is in that category. It is the business we are in and it doesn’t surprise me that there is that amount of speculation about Lyall because he is an extremely talented young footballer.”
Dundee would be due compensation if he moved to Ibrox. If a fee couldn’t be agreed between the two clubs then it would go to a tribunal, as Connor Barron’s move from Aberdeen to Rangers recently did.
Docherty has managed to strengthen his squad ahead of the clash with Celtic with the signing of Brighton left-back Imari Samuels. The defender has penned a two-year deal with Dundee and Docherty stated he had been on the radar for the last two seasons.
The Dundee manager explained: “Imari has always been on my radar since I have come to the club. He is one we have targeted in every window. He is a really talented left-back/wing-back, who moved for quite a bit of money from Reading to Brighton.
“He has played at every level up to Under-20s with England. He is a really talented player and I am delighted the club has backed us in making it permanent because I feel there is real potential to develop him.”
Docherty also revealed Dundee are waiting for the paperwork to complete winger Victor Lopez’s loan from Monterrey. Dundee also have a partnership with the Mexican club and have already signed team-mate Cesar Garza on loan.
Docherty stated: “There is some red tape to go through with that. It is another one, that is real forward thinking from the club. You see the benefits with the partnership with Burnley and (Oluwaseun) Adewumi.
“You saw it with Cesar Garza when he made his debut and Victor Lopez is another one through the expensive and robust process with our strategic partnership with Monterrey, he is one we have developed and feel he could really enhance our team.
“He is another who can come in and we would like to help them realise their potential.”
It was also confirmed Adewumi’s loan from Burnley and Ziyad Larkeche’s move from QPR have been extended for the season. Meanwhile, midfielder Sam Braybrooke has returned to Leicester City after his loan at Dens Park.