Rangers backed to sanction James Tavernier Ibrox exit for ‘life-changing’ transfer
Rangers have been backed to sanction a summer Ibrox exit for James Tavernier amid links with a “life-changing” transfer to Saudi Arabia by Mark Guidi.
The Englishman has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia this summer, with reports suggesting Steven Gerrard is keen to bring the Gers skipper to Al-Ettifaq alongside Ibrox teammate Connor Goldson [Daily Record, 24 April].
While it remains to be seen if the Light Blues would be open to selling the 32-year-old come the end of the season, chief football writer at the Sunday Mail Guidi believes this transfer would give Philippe Clement the perfect opportunity “to start from scratch”.
Speaking on The Go Radio Show (25 April, 10:00) he said: “I would imagine there would be a fee involved, what kind of fee I don’t know.
“But I would like to think given James Tavernier’s service to Rangers for the guts of nine years, if he felt this was a fantastic opportunity, life-changing money etc, Rangers would find a way to look upon that favourably.
“I’m not saying give him away for free but look upon it as a bit of a nice way to treat some of your guys. It might be a blessing for everybody, it might just be the natural end for James Tavernier at Rangers and it might give Philippe Clement the opportunity to start from scratch.”
Will James Tavernier reunite with Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq and leave Rangers in the transfer window?
While Tavernier may not have the trophy cabinet to match his performances across his tenure at Ibrox, he has been a modern-day great impressing from right-back for nearly a decade in Glasgow.
There will always be pundits and supporters who suggest that he is a “serial loser” incapable of leading a team that are capable of lifting the Premiership, but there is a feeling that he couldn’t do much more to help his side.
Whether or not the Englishman will be keen to leave Ibrox this summer remains to be seen, but the riches of the Saudi Pro League will almost certainly be tempting. It will then be down to the Gers whether or not they accept a bid if it arrives.
This story has been doing the rounds for a long time now and shows very little signs of slowing down before the transfer window opens at the end of the season. Hopefully, some clarity will emerge at Ibrox sooner rather than later around the skipper’s future.
In other Rangers news, the Gers have been told to offer Leon Balogun a new contract after a brand-new contract admission
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