Michael Beale pitch to Conor Coady over Rangers transfer needed amid links after confirmed Everton exit
Conor Coady’s confirmed departure from Everton should spark Michael Beale to pick up the phone to investigate a potential Rangers transfer amid immediate speculation.
The England international’s exit back to parent club Wolves was announced on Thursday after his £4.5million permanent option wasn’t triggered [Times, 1 June], with his subsequent activity on social media sparking suggestions he has his eye on Ibrox.
Whether he was sending a message or not, Beale, who spent time at Liverpool alongside the defender between 2012 and 2014 before Coady left permanently for Huddersfield Town, shouldn’t leave a stone unturned in his quest to strengthen his Rangers squad this summer and must at least make contact to gauge interest.
The 30-year-old posted a photo of his three sons on his Instagram stories on Thursday (1 June) after his Goodison Park exit was announced, with focus generated by the fact one was wearing a full Rangers kit.
Speculation kicked off immediately [Daily Record, 1 June] that this amounted to a ‘come and get me’ plea to Beale, but given his other two sons were wearing Italy kits and Coady clearly isn’t angling for a call-up from Roberto Mancini it is perhaps coincidence.
What it does suggest is that the Wolves player will be well aware of the goings on at Ibrox if his son is a fan, if he wasn’t already thanks to his previous links to the manager.
With Beale thought to be in the market for a central defender and Ben Davies potentially moving on after a year, with Arsenal’s Auston Trusty linked as a target [Daily Mail, 8 May], Coady could be the answer.
The links may seem tenuous but chasing them up could land Rangers an established international with extensive Premier League experience, who still has good years left in him.
Unwanted at Molineux under former manager Bruno Lage, perhaps Julen Lopetegui feels differently, but if not the long-time former captain finds himself in relative limbo.
It goes without saying that finances will be a question, since the chances of the Gers matching a Premier League salary seem remote, and even £4.5million might be beyond the budget if a permanent deal were available.
But Rangers brought in Aaron Ramsey for what turned out to be a fairly fruitless loan move a season ago, so arrangements can certainly be made if a player is willing.
The chance to be a regular under a coach who is building a new project and knows him already, with potential Champions League football available if things go to plan, might be the sort of opportunity that would convince a player like Coady to lower wage demands.
He fell out of favour at Everton under Sean Dyche but had been a regular for Frank Lampard and still played a key role in the final-day escape last Sunday (28 May).
Beale should put in a call and see where it takes him. Worst case scenario is Coady says he’s not interested and everyone moves on, but if he’s open to the idea then it could be a valuable part of the rebuild.
In other Rangers news, the Light Blues are set to win the race for a new outfield signing ahead of Premier League clubs.