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RANGERS boss Mark Warburton is facing an anxious wait to discover if Arsenal kid Gedion Zelalem is willing to move to the second tier of Scottish football – or go on loan to the English Championship instead.

Record Sport broke the news online yesterday that the highly rated 18-year-old had arrived in Glasgow to hold signing talks with Warburton at Murray Park.

The youngster, accompanied by his father, then returned to London last night after a whistle stop tour of the training complex and Ibrox Stadium to decide whether or not to join Warburton’s squad.

But we can reveal that Zalalem, tipped as a future USA star, is also mulling over similar short-term deals at Fulham, Charlton and Birmingham City.

He must now decide which move will be best for his development.

While it’s understood Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has already given his own approval to the idea of spending at least six months in Scotland, the player faces a big decision.

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Rangers had hoped that Zalalem would slip in and out of the country without being noticed as Warburton is concerned that a player of such tender years could be spooked by the ferocious intensity of life in Glasgow.

But, ironically, this is precisely why Warburton believes Rangers are ideally placed to attract some of the most sought-after youngsters in England’s academy set-up.

He has already tied up similar deals with Spurs for two players, Nathan Oduwa and Dominic Ball, by convincing the London club that the youngsters will benefit from performing under the spotlight and in front of up to 50,000 fans.

Warburton has also held similar discussions with Wenger and the Frenchman is happy for the teenager to prepare for life as a first team player at Arsenal by plunging into Glasgow’s goldfish bowl.

But a source close to the talks said last night: “There’s been no agreement. The talks went well but there are other options on the table and it’s up to Gedion to decide which one suits him best.”

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Zalalem is an attacking midfielder who switched allegiances from Germany to USA after being pursued by Jurgan Klinsmann.

Born in Berlin to Ethiopian parents, Zalalem and family moved to Maryland in 2006 and he represented the States at the Under-20 World Cup in June.