Rangers boss Steven Gerrard pinpointed Sean Longstaff as a key transfer loan target to get his Ibrox revolution under way.
The 21-year-old Newcastle midfielder has become a key man at St James' Park over the past 18 months and former boss Rafa Benitez has now lifted the lid on the Ibrox side's intentions.
Longstaff had already proved capable of starring in the Premiership after an impressive six-month spell with Kilmarnock during the 2016/17 season.
And the England U21 international, who was a £50m transfer target for Manchester United during the summer transfer window, was reportedly high up on the Ibrox wishlist when Gerrard took the reins.
Benitez has revealed his former Liverpool captain Gerrard contacted him personally with a view of sealing a short-term deal for Newcastle's homegrown star.
But no deal could be reached and the current Dalian Yifang boss reckons his side's defiant stance amid Rangers' interest has reaped rewards.
The Spaniard told The Athletic : “In the summer (2018), Stevie called me about Sean Longstaff. Rangers were interested and he asked whether they could sign him on loan, but I told him “no” - he’d be staying at Newcastle United.
“Some people have said, 'Oh, Rafa was lucky because of Longstaff', but we’d been watching him and we were happy with him, we played him in the first-team, supported him and gave him confidence.
“Turning Rangers down is proof of what we thought of Sean.”
Longstaff's future remains a subject of great debate with various reports suggesting Manchester United remain confident of sealing a deal for the player when the January transfer window opens for business.
Unde-fire Old Trafford boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a huge admirer of the midfielder who many have likened to former Red Devils pass master Michael Carrick.
But the current United coach rejected the resemblance while also praising Longstaff's abilities.
Carrick said: "I don't like comparisons to be honest.
"It's not fair on Sean if anything.
"He is carving his own career out for himself and has got his own traits and strengths."
