George Overhill

Wed 5 July 2023 12:10, UK

Steven Gerrard is lining up a “bumper Saudi offer” to take Scott Wright from Rangers this summer, according to the Daily Record.

The former Ibrox boss has just taken over at Al Ettifaq and is reportedly eyeing a move for Light Blues captain James Tavernier [90min, 4 July], although there is yet to be any contact made over a deal.

While the full-back would otherwise be going nowhere Wright, a rotational option in attacking midfield, is one of the first-team names who are expected to be available either way.

So with the Daily Record reporting that Gerrard’s club is ready to table a £2million bid for the Scot as he looks to “tap into the Saudi oil money well” it could be the transfer option the Gers are looking for.

Michael Beale has already signed Sam Lammers and Abdallah Sima in attacking areas and has Cyriel Dessers on the way to join them.

So, in contrast to Tavernier, the manager is ready to let Wright go as he is “surplus to requirements” at Ibrox, and the 25-year-old is now reportedly on Gerrard’s list of targets in the Middle East.

Cash boost?

If such an offer actually arrives on the table then that is a far better deal than would have been expected to be available for Wright this summer, and surely far more lucrative than interest from Preston North End could have been.

Whether he would want to take it is another matter, but far bigger names than him have already been tempted by the riches on offer in the Saudi Pro League.

Beale has made a host of signings and doesn’t seem be slowing down yet, although he apparently wants a slimmed down squad next season overall so he is going to have to get rid of some.

Wright didn’t start any league games last season once the current Ibrox boss took over from Giovanni van Bronckhorst, so if the Dutchman’s predecessor, Gerrard, is ready to buy him then surely he would be set for more game time.

It would certainly be an unexpected development for the massive Saudi recruitment drive that is currently under way and has picked up the likes of Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Ruben Neves so far, before landing in Glasgow to prize Jota from Celtic for £25m this week [Sky Sports, 5 July], also swept up Wright.

But the transfer window always throws up surprises and the Saudi league arriving on the market in a big way has made most things impossible to rule out.

In other Rangers news, a seventh signing after Dessers is in line with agreement reportedly now “very close” after drawn-out talks.