Rangers set for Morgan Whittaker breakthrough next week amid Russell Martin to Southampton update
Rangers look set to have the door opened to continue their months-long pursuit of Swansea’s Morgan Whittaker next week after an update on the status of Russell Martin.
The former Light Blues defender is currently in the process of departing South Wales for the job at Southampton, and the Swans have reportedly put any player transfers on hold until a replacement is appointed [Football Scotland, 31 May].
Beale had three bids rejected in the January transfer window, but the Gers are ready to make a fourth this summer and now appear due to get the breakthrough they need on the Martin situation.
Responding to a question on Twitter Wednesday (7 June) about a replacement coming in at Swansea Sun journalist Alan Nixon replied: “Martin exit needs to be confirmed and sorted. So you might have a week before an announcement. But you can still sort it behind the scenes.”
If Martin’s switch to St. Mary’s is indeed announced next week it removes the spanner that was clogging up the works of first, his replacement being appointed, and second, a potential Whittaker exit to Ibrox.
Sky Sports had reported on Monday that the hold up was down to a “disagreement” over compensation amid two separate release clauses in his Swans contract.
Assuming Nixon’s timeline for Martin to be unveiled at Southampton is accurate it doesn’t automatically send Whittaker, 22, to Rangers, as there will be the small matter of whether the new manager is ready to let him go to contend with.
But with talks reportedly already underway [Daily Record, 4 June] it appears that Beale is serious about finally landing the young winger, and must have some inclination that the effort won’t be wasted by a flat refusal at Swansea.
The Ibrox boss has already landed three new signings and is showing no signs of slowing down, so Whittaker could be on the cards before too long now that it appears a key stumbling block is set to be removed.
In other Rangers news, a fourth arrival is set to arrive at Ibrox before a change in priority for Beale.