James Tavernier wanted by Steven Gerrard in Saudi Arabia transfer as former Rangers boss eyes Ibrox raid
James Tavernier is a target for multiple Saudi Pro League clubs with former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard eyeing a reunion at his new job with Al Ettifaq, 90min reports.
The former Ibrox boss has just been confirmed as the new manager at the Middle Eastern club and is apparently targeting his former captain as one of his initial moves.
It is Gerrard’s first job since being sacked at Aston Villa last October, whom he left the Gers for less than a year earlier just months after lifting the 55th title.
While Tavernier is reportedly in the sights of other Saudi sides as well, 90min suggest that the former England captain is set to revisit his previous clubs for his transfer business as Philippe Coutinho, Jordan Henderson and ex-Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum are all targets.
Money talks
Losing Tavernier is clearly not going to be in Michael Beale’s plans for the summer, with the window so far going very well in terms of incoming moves.
The current Rangers manager is set to move onto prioritising exits soon as he plans to oversee a tighter squad in terms of numbers next season.
But losing his skipper to his old boss at Ibrox and Villa Park is not one of the departures that he would have had in mind, as whatever deficiencies Tavernier might have defensively he continues to be a key part of the XI, with his goals and assists from full-back invaluable.
The defender himself, 31, probably didn’t have an Ibrox exit in mind this summer but the huge sums of cash on offer as part of the current Saudi investment drive have already turned numerous heads in world football, including Gerrard himself.
He had initially turned down the offer to take over at Al Ettifaq after traveling to the country last month [Daily Mail, 20 June], but clearly has changed his mind after being confirmed on Monday (3 July).
Celtic star Jota has just just left Parkhead for Al-Ittihad in a £25million move [Sky Sports, 4 July], and it is obviously difficult for any player to turn down such a huge increase in wages in any situation.
It remains to be seen whether concrete bids are put on the table for the man who went over 100 goals for the Light Blues last season, but fans will likely be hoping they aren’t unless they are staggering in size.
In other Rangers news, the seventh signing of the summer has already been lined up to follow the sixth when Cyriel Dessers comes in.