James Tavernier transfer to Al-Ettifaq may be closer than ever after Rangers update at Ibrox
Rangers may have already dropped the biggest hint so far that James Tavernier’s time at Ibrox may well be coming to an end.
The Light Blues skipper has been surrounded by speculation over the last few months with various reports suggesting that he remains a target for Steven Gerrard and Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League [Daily Record, 24 April].
Whilst the Englishman’s stance throughout has been to suggest that he is just focused on his time in Glasgow, several pundits and supporters are beginning to admit time could be running out for Tavernier in a Gers shirt.
Further fuel was added to this fire when the Light Blues announced and unveiled their new away kit. The captain was mysteriously absent, with Dujon Sterling, Ross McCausland and Ridvan Yilmaz modelling the white Castore number.
There is every chance that the 32-year-old was just away when these promotional photos were taken, but it does feel odd that the club’s leader and talisman wasn’t included in the marketing material.
Will James Tavernier leave Rangers during the summer transfer window?
While the criticism of Tavernier has been over the top in the last few weeks, it is impossible to argue that the right-back’s standards have not slipped under the management of Philippe Clement.
In the final game of the season, the Old Firm defeat against Celtic, the 32-year-old was repeatedly caught out by long diagonal balls over his head, something that proves an issue every time he faces Daizen Maeda.
Add to that the fact that the Gers have been credited with an interest in soon-to-be free argent Ben Johnson and it does feel like the Light Blues are preparing for life without Tavernier both on and off the field [The 4th Official, 1 June].
There is every chance that people have read to much into his absence from the kit launch, but this has all the marking of the end of the road for the Englishman.
Speculation is going to be rife around his future from now until the end of the summer transfer window. Hopefully, some clarity will emerge over the situation sooner rather than later.
In other Rangers news, Chris Jack has shared a new update over Robbie McCrorie’s future at Ibrox amid links with Aberdeen
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