Club boss states new Rangers signing could be set for loan exit on deadline day
Jack Simpson signed a pre-contract to join Rangers in the summer but he could be set for an imminent loan move after appearing out-of-favour at Bournemouth.
The 24-year-old agreed an Ibrox move last week but was expected to see out the current campaign at his existing side who are aiming for an instant return to the Premier League.
Bournemouth are sixth in the Championship as they occupy the final play-off spot while automatic promotion is still a distinct possibility as they sit eight points off Swansea in second with 20 games left to play.
However they might do so without the services of Simpson who has played nine times in the league this season.
In quotes reported by the Scottish Sun, Cherries boss Jason Tindall said: “If someone was to come in for him from now until the end of the season, then that would be a discussion we would have to have.”
He added: “I’ll treat them [departing players] just the same as I’ll treat everybody else, but at the same time if you’ve got other players that’s futures are here at the football club and are performing just as well then you also do take that into consideration.”
Game-time crucial for development
Gers boss Steven Gerrard will certainly be hoping Simpson can secure a move away from Bournemouth for the rest of the season before linking up with his side in the summer.
He has not played in any of the Cherries’ last four games and did not even make the squad for two of them as speculation mounted on his exit.
That has been sorted now but Tindall’s comments sound ominous and questions have to be asked about how much game time he will actually receive between now and the end of his contract.
Chris Mepham and Steve Cook are the established centre-back pairing at the club while they can also call upon Lloyd Kelly and Cameron Carter-Vickers.
It was not as if Simpson was a regular starter before agreeing a move to Ibrox as he has played just nine of Bournemouth’s 26 Championship game this season, though six of these came in succession between December and January.
Gerrard will now be hoping Simpson is allowed to develop elsewhere before being integrated into the Gers set-up in the summer.
In other Rangers news, club aims to pull off deadline-day swoop for Premiership star.