Rangers 'surprised' verdict shared amid James Tavernier exit latest at Ibrox

Rangers selling skipper James Tavernier and trying to sign a free-agent replacement would be "a surprise", according to Chris Jack.

Speaking on The Rangers Review (9 September), Jack said that amid interest from sides in Turkey and Qatar [HITC, 6 September], the Gers selling their captain after the transfer window would not be a good move.

Tavernier is set to be the subject of an 'accelerated' transfer pursuit from Besiktas [Fotomac, 9 September], but Jack argued that with a lack of adequate right-backs on the free agent market, the 33-year-old should stay put.

Jack said: "I think now it'd be a surprise in terms of the timing, because I don't think it would be ideal from a Rangers point of view.

"We spoke about the free transfers that are available, and I think the consensus amongst us is that if they were going to do that, they would have done it by now.

"I'd be surprised if they go and try and replace the captain with a free transfer, a fortnight after the window has shut."

James Tavernier could still stay put at Rangers amid transfer links

Had any serious transfer approaches from clubs in Qatar and Turkey come in early-to-mid August, rather than September, it's likely that Tavernier would already be long gone and said his goodbyes at Ibrox.

Philippe Clement's squad rebuild has seen several experienced heads leave the club in recent months, including Jon McLaughlin, Ryan Jack and Tavernier's former defensive partner Connor Goldson.

Tavernier, however, has stayed put, and remains a key cog in Clement's team having worn the armband for every minute the Gers have played in the new campaign thus far.

A consensus amongst fans, journalists and pundits suggested that summer 2024 was the right time for the Light Blues to part ways with their long-serving captain, but that ship now appears to have sailed.

Although good options are still out there among the free agent market [HITC, 7 September], it's unlikely that any stand out to the extent that Tavernier does in Clement's eyes, and thus until January at least, expect the 33-year-old to remain at Ibrox.

In other Rangers news, one Ibrox youngster wasn't give enough time on the pitch to turn around a "disappointing" international defeat.

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