David Bates training with Hamburg academy amid Rangers links
Rangers were linked with a strange move to re-sign Hamburg defender David Bates this week.
Homme du Match reported that Steven Gerrard could make a move to bring back the 24-year-old to Ibrox after three years away.
Looking at the defensive options in Glasgow already, it appears unlikely that will be the priority in these final three weeks.
Bild has now shared an interesting twist on the links.
The German outlet has reported that Bates is now training with the academy at Hamburg, as pre-season comes to an end.
Bates only has one year left on his current contract, and it is suggested that a cheap move could be negotiated.
If a permanent move isn’t agreed this summer, then the defender may be able to leave for free at the end of next season.
No chance.
Bates may have been linked by the media this week, but there is surely no chance of that happening.
The 24-year-old was shown the exit door only days after Gerrard was appointed nearly four years ago, and it would be some U-turn for this move to happen.
The defender isn’t exactly catching the eye in the second tier of German football, and training with the academy there doesn’t fill us with joy.
It is suggested that being with the academy is only for his fitness, but he could do that with the first team, meaning he has been forced out.
Bates may dream of a return to Glasgow one day, but it surely won’t be to Rangers after we started our run of dominance last season.
In other Rangers news, ‘Nae chance’, ‘He is rotten’, ‘Ball boy’ – These Bears Super Fans destroy major transfer update