Harry Darling set for move as Rangers eye defender transfer
Rangers, along with Norwich City, Sheffield United and Birmingham City, are reportedly in the race to sign Harry Darling.
The centre-back is set to leave Swansea this month as his contract at the Welsh side is expiring.
The Ibrox outfit are considering signing Darling as Russell Martin is keen on adding to his ranks defensively.
Norwich confident to win transfer race for Harry Darling
According to Pink Un (16 June), Norwich are confident of beating the competition to sign the highly sought-after defender.
They are in the process of finalising the deal for Darling, making them the likely winners to finalise it.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Second Yellows | Red Cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
While there still remains work to be done, he is expected to become their third signing of the summer.
Rangers, on the other hand, are yet to make any signings thus far, but a centre-back is a priority.
Martin wants to sign Leicester City star Conor Coady and could prioritise his services now that Darling seems unlikely to join.
Rangers are better suited to sign Coady than Darling
Coady is a superior signing for Rangers compared to Darling due to his extensive experience, leadership, and proven adaptability in high-pressure environments.
At 32, Coady brings nearly 200 Premier League appearances, 10 England caps and a track record of captaining Wolverhampton Wanderers to success, including a Championship title.
His intelligent on-ball play and excellent pass completion rate align with Martin’s possession-based system, offering stability to a Gers defence needing reinforcement after Robin Propper’s likely Ibrox departure.
Coady’s leadership addresses Rangers’ need for vocal, experienced figures to guide younger players, a quality less evident in the 25-year-old Darling, who, despite familiarity with Martin from MK Dons and Swansea, lacks top-tier experience and ranks lower in defensive metrics like anticipation and physicality.
Coady’s proven pedigree and immediate impact potential make him the better choice for Rangers’ ambitions.