Rangers ready bid for late Chris Mepham transfer, exit call now made
Rangers have added Bournemouth defender Chris Mepham to their shortlist at Ibrox as the transfer window enters its final stages.
The Gers have already signed nine players this summer, including two central defenders.
Nasser Djiga was signed by Rangers on loan from Wolves, and young centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez has also arrived from Peterborough.
Decision-makers at Ibrox are set for an influx of cash before the window shuts, after Rangers agreed to sell Hamza Igamane to Lille for £10.5million.
And he could be joined out of the door by his striking partner last season, with Panathinaikos set to ready a bid for Cyriel Dessers.
Rangers to bid for Chris Mepham with Russell Martin keen for defensive reinforcement
Rangers approached Leicester City about a move for Conor Coady earlier in the summer, but the defender has since signed for Championship side Wrexham.
The defender would have brought huge Premier League experience, but the Gers now appear to be pivoting to Mepham, who will provide a different type of quality from the Cherries.
The majority of the 27-year-old’s time on the pitch has been spent in the Championship, with the defender spending last season on loan at Sunderland.
- Chris Mepham was signed by Bournemouth in 2019 in a deal worth £12m.
- The defender’s career before then was spent with Brentford, after leaving the Chelsea academy.
Mepham made 38 appearances for Regis Le Bris’ side and made a key contribution in the play-off final against Sheffield United.
When Luke O’Nien was forced off in just the eighth minute, the Wales international was substituted on and made 12 clearances as Sunderland emerged victorious.
The Scottish Sun reported on 26 August that Rangers are now set to launch a bid for Mepham, who could be available on a cut-price deal with Bournemouth keen to offload.
Chris Mepham would add senior option to Russell Martin’s backline
Russell Martin’s backlines so far have featured one of Djiga or Fernandez, paired with John Souttar.
Excitement surrounding the potential of both young defenders was high when they were signed by Rangers, but neither player has managed to impress so far.
| Chris Mepham | Championship 2024/25 (per 90) |
| Progressive carries | 1.13 |
| Aerials won | 2.97 |
| Clearances | 6.52 |
| Pass completion | 86.7% |
Mepham could allow Martin to deploy a more experienced option alongside Souttar, and the defender is well capable of performing now, being made surplus to requirements.
The 27-year-old boasted impressive stats in the Championship last season, indicating ability on the ball and defensive solidity around the box – an asset Rangers could benefit from currently.
Sign up for the Ibrox News WhatsApp channel and turn on notifications to have all the latest, breaking Rangers news sent straight to your phone.