An “astronomical” agreement has been agreed upon by a “exceptional” Rangers player to leave Ibrox this summer and link up with former manager Steven Gerrard, according to a new update.
A summer of transition for the Rangers
Even though the football world may be focused on Euro 2024, Philippe Clement has had a very successful summer transfer window thus far, adding a lot of new players.
While Oscar Cortes, who joined from Lens during the January transfer window, will spend another season on loan at Ibrox, players like Jefte, Connor Barron, Liam Kelly, and Clinton Nsiala have all signed permanent contracts.
It looks as though Rangers’ business is far from done, with attacker Hamza Igamane seen as the next man to come in, arriving from Moroccan outfit AS FAR.
The Scottish Premiership giants have also been linked with a move for Tottenham ace Ryan Sessegnon, whose career has dipped after emerging as a hugely exciting teenager, but who could be desperate for a new challenge. He is considered someone who could provide further quality out wide alongside Cortes, too.
This has also been a summer of change when it comes to outgoings at Rangers, with a host of players moving on when their contracts expire, from Ryan Jack to Kemar Roofe. Now, another exit claim has emerged – and one that is likely to worry the supporters.
“Exceptional” Rangers hero on the move
According to a new development courtesy of Football Insider, James Tavernier has agreed to leave Rangers and join Gerrard at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, with an “astronomical” deal on the table.
The update claims that the “package in question is believed to ‘massively’ increase” the Gers captain’s wages, and the player himself “has accepted the contract offer”.
This is undoubtedly bad news for Rangers fans, considering Tavernier has arguably been the most impressive player at Ibrox over many years, providing a remarkable amount of end product from right-back.
Granted, the Englishman’s numbers are aided by the fact that he takes penalties, but a tally of 125 goals and 129 assists in 460 appearances are the kind of statistics that a striker would be happy to register in his career. Clement waxed lyrical over him last season after he recorded the highest number of assists for a British defender:
“To be there on top – it’s an amazing achievement and we’re all proud of him. I said it in the dressing room also after the game. I don’t too often point out individual players, I don’t like it too much, but I had to do it this time. All the players are really proud of him, all the staff and the fans and everybody involved with Rangers. It’s really quite exceptional.”
At 32, Tavernier isn’t getting any younger, so those of a more optimistic persuasion could point towards Rangers getting good money for an ageing player, but he is going to be extremely difficult to replace, both in terms of quality and leadership.
