Rangers Send Scouts to Watch Doncaster Rovers Youngster Bayley McCann

Derek McInnes is already preparing for the January transfer window as Rangers have sent scouts to assess Doncaster Rovers left-back Bayley McCann. According to Football Insider, Ibrox representatives were present on Wednesday when Doncaster lost 2-0 to Stockport County.

It was McCann's first league start for Rovers after regular appearances off the bench this season. Despite letting in two goals, the 20-year-old had the most defensive contributions (six) of any player on the field.

He also created a chance and kept a 67% ground-duel win rate during the game. A Northern Ireland Under-21 international, McCann joined Doncaster from Barnsley in January.

The left-back has committed to an initial two-and-a-half-year contract, linking up with his father, Grant McCann, who is the manager of the club. Likewise, he's already assisted twice in League One despite only making one start and playing a total of 247 minutes.

He's the best left-back in the league when it comes to assists, as no other player in the same position has averaged 0.73 assists per 90. Furthermore, McCann has averaged the same number of big chances created per 90, again standing as the best in the English third division.

Nevertheless, his father has also deployed him on the opposite flank on a few occasions. The ability to be comfortable on both flanks can be an asset to the Gers, with McInnes valuing positional versatility.

Before moving to Doncaster, McCann was a part of the youth setup at Peterborough United and then Barnsley. He played for both clubs when he became a senior player, while also spending some time on loan at Peterborough Sports and Alfreton Town.

Recently, the left-back scored his first goal for the Northern Ireland Under-21 team against Malta, having made his debut in March 2025. He scored a goal in a 4-0 victory against Malta's Under-21 side, but his country failed to qualify for the 2027 UEFA Under-21 Championship.

The reported scouting trip suggests some level of interest from the Scottish giants. However, there is no current indication of any further moves being made by McInnes' side. Likewise, an immediate return isn't expected from a player who recently made his League One debut. 

Nevertheless, Doncaster have McCann tied to the club until the summer of 2028. There is also no publicly reported release clause, which means the Gers will likely need to negotiate a fee and convince his father, who is also the manager, that this can be the right decision for his career.