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Barrie McKay could be heading back to Leipzig before the end of the month after the Germans launched a move to pinch him from Rangers .

Record Sport can reveal the Bundesliga shocktroops have held preliminary talks about a £6million January move for the 22-year-old winger after he impressed during Sunday’s friendly between the two sides at the Red Bull Arena.

A number of English Premier League clubs are also monitoring the attacker.

McKay caught the eye of Leipzig sporting director Ralf Rangnick during the German side’s 4-0 win.

Rangnick was impressed enough by McKay’s overall performance to immediately look into the player’s contract situation.

McKay has only 18 months left on his Rangers deal and Rangnick believes he can get in ahead of any bidders down south by making an offer now rather than waiting for the market to open up again in the summer.

Leipzig shelled out £13m to snatch McKay’s Scotland team-mate Ollie Burke from Nottingham Forest in the summer.

Burke has yet to nail down a regular place in a team which is battling Bayern Munich for the title but Rangnick has high hopes for the teenager who capped his first home start with a goal against Mark Warburton’s Light Blues.

And now he believes in McKay he has spotted another Scottish gem.

Our Leipzig source said: “McKay was easily the most impressive of all the Rangers players and Rangnick was certainly impressed.

“Since the weekend there have been some serious discussions about making an offer for the player.

“It is the club’s transfer policy to buy the best available young talent.

“The philosophy is to look for targets who are under 25 years of age with big potential for the future.

“McKay is the right age and with only 18 months left on his contract at Rangers he could be available at the right price.

“Leipzig believe they could get this player for somewhere between £5m and £7m.

“For that sort of money this would seem like a sensible investment.”

Another player who will be paying close attention to McKay’s situation will be Rangers wideman Michael O’Halloran whose own position in Warburton’s plans remains the subject of doubt.

Yesterday the Ibrox manager denied a Sports Record exclusive that Hearts are among four top-flight clubs leading the chase for O’Halloran’s signature – along with St Johnstone, Ross Co and Motherwell.

But we understand the Tynecastle outfit have made their interest known to the player and remain hopeful of landing him on loan until the end of the season.

We can reveal English clubs Barnsley and Oxford have also asked to be kept informed of O’Halloran’s situation within the last few days.

The 26-year-old is waiting for Warburton to decide whether or not he is surplus to requirements for the remainder of the campaign.

O’Halloran only joined the Gers 12 months ago from St Johnstone and is still desperate to make an impact at Ibrox.

It’s understood, even if he does have to search for top-team football elsewhere for the time being, he sees his long-term future at Rangers.

But O’Halloran may not have to move on at all if McKay is prised from Warburton’s squad before the end of the month.