Philippe Clement issues expensive Rangers transfer update on axed Connor Goldson
James Tavernier and Connor Goldson will “cost a lot of money” to take away from Rangers so they are both expected to remain at the club to next season, according to Philippe Clement.
The Gers boss dismissed speculation linking former manager Steven Gerrard to a pair of Saudi transfers for his ex-Ibrox defenders [Daily Record, 24 April], insisting the rumours were irrelevant to his work in Glasgow.
Goldson lost his place to Leon Balogun in the Scottish Cup semi final last week while captain Tavernier’s form was criticised after his error in the draw with Celtic, but Clement insisted both remain “important” players for him.
Speaking in his press conference the Belgian said: “Yeah, I expect them to be here next season. That’s my expectation. Have I spoken to them? No. There’s no reason to. My players come to speak to me if they have doubts or if they want to go or if they are out of contract. We have that relationship.
“If I need to speak to every player where there is a rumour about, then we will not train too much or I cannot speak about a lot of interesting things because there are so many rumours in the world now and so much fake news also. So if you need to speak about that all the time, it’s a waste of energy.”
He later told Sky Sports Scotland: “It will cost a lot of money. We didn’t hear anything about that. They are, for me, two players who are important for next season also. I didn’t hear anything so I will not going into all the rumours. Every week there are different rumours, otherwise I’ll have too much to talk about, things that are not relevant.”
James Tavernier also not expected to rejoin old Rangers boss Steven Gerrard
On the surface it would appear that Tavernier and Goldson remain secure at Rangers based on the manager’s response to speculation.
But he was even more unequivocal when commenting on John Lundstram’s chances of leaving amid contract talks last month, and yet the midfielder appears to have just agreed a deal to join Trabzonspor.
The situation isn’t quite the same in that the pair of veteran defenders are under contract and would required the club to accept bids to let them go, but it shows that money talks and in Lundstram’s case he seemingly wanted more than the Light Blues were willing to give.
Astronomical sums being offered from the Saudi Pro League have tailed off but if ongoing links to Gerrard do materialise into something concrete there is still the possibility that money that the club can’t refuse would be put on the table so exits can’t be ruled out.
Both Goldson and Tavernier have been important figures in the recent history of Rangers, although both have been heavily criticised for failure to match Celtic for trophies.
Based on recent form it would be far harder to replace the captain’s contributions, in attack at least, than the centre-back who was dropped at Hampden, but both would leave big gaps behind.
Clement clearly doesn’t expect to need to replace them, but there is bound to be a lot of movement in the summer either way so that might change.
In other Rangers news, a Light Blues man on a “hefty” wage’s form may have collapsed due to talks over his future with an exit now set to happen.
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