Michael Beale reacts to Rangers-Morgan Whittaker bid rejection claims
Michael Beale has suggested that he has not been informed “in-house” that Rangers have had a bid rejected for Swansea City forward Morgan Whittaker.
The Bears are heavily interested in signing the 22-year-old forward, but they are miles apart from meeting Swansea’s valuation of the player, as reported by Lyall Thomas for Sky Sports [19 January].
Swans boss Russell Martin has claimed that a bid for Whittaker has been rebuffed by the club. When Beale was asked to comment after the Gers’ win over Kilmarnock, he revealed that he has not been told about this.
“Did he really? I didn’t know we had made a bid but I will talk about the player. They have recalled him for a reason,” said Beale, as quoted by Rangers Review.
“I would say that he was one of the better if not the best player in League One in the first half of the season and unless they have recalled him to play him, they must have recalled him to move him to a higher level.
“I think he is a good player but there is nothing more than that. And that is not what I have been told in-house.”
First signing
Rangers are yet to land a player in the January transfer window but Beale is confident that the club will be able to land one or two players shortly.
The Bears have been linked with a move for Norwich City attacker Todd Cantwell [Sky Sports] as well, but as of now, the club has not been able to reach an agreement.
The Glasgow giants, meanwhile, maintained their unbeaten run under Beale after they came from behind at Rugby Park to secure a 3-2 win.
Goals from Alfredo Morelos double and Ryan Kent earned an important three points for the club. Interestingly, both players are out of contract in the summer and they are free to speak to other foreign clubs in the January window.
Whittaker joined Plymouth on loan for the first half of the season, where he scored nine goals and provided seven assists in 19 starts in League One this season.
He has been recalled by Swansea, and it remains to be seen whether Rangers can strike a deal for him in the coming days.
In other Rangers news, the Gers are expected to sign this “World Cup star” in January.