James Tavernier future questioned as Rangers land transfer deal for Dujon Sterling
James Tavernier’s future in the Rangers first-team has been called into question by Stephen McGinn after a deal was agreed for Chelsea’s Dujon Sterling.
The 23-year-old has rejected a new contract at Stamford Bridge and Football Scotland reported on Tuesday (16 May) that Michael Beale had “landed” his target.
Reacting to the news of the full-back heading to Ibrox, Falkirk’s McGinn speculated that ever-present Gers skipper Tavernier may not be a regular for much longer.
Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, as per Football Scotland, the midfielder said: “It’s interesting with Tavernier being the captain. He’s been very robust and he always plays so it will be very interesting moving forward to see if he’s still a regular next year with them signing a right-back.”
Changing of the guard
It won’t happen immediately but with eight years’ age-difference it is not a vast leap to suggest that the plan might be for the Rangers captain to gradually hand over to Sterling.
Tavernier has time left as a key man at Ibrox but as he heads into his 30s it would be beneficial for him to sit out a bit more often either way.
He has played 110 times for the club since the start of last season, will surely add a couple more before the summer, and there were suspicions earlier in the campaign as things fell apart under Giovanni van Bronckhorst that the goal-scoring marvel was running into the ground and playing through injury.
His 17 more goals this season, reaching his century for Rangers, and 10 more assists, show that it would be foolish to ditch him from the line up yet.
But at the very least cover is required, and with Sterling capable of playing on either side it will give Beale more options.
Whether a full-back is set to leave to help fund business elsewhere, with both Borna Barisic and Ridvan Yilmaz linked to Turkish moves at times during the season, remains to be seen, but while the arrival from Chelsea is sure to have a decent role it would be a surprise to see it surpass Tavernier just yet.
In other Rangers news, “the deal’s done” between the clubs on a major summer transfer but the player appears to have other plans.