James Tavernier to take Rangers contract pay cut in surprise new reveal
Danny Rohl could potentially make James Tavernier a key part of his back three at Rangers, David Templeton says.
The former Gers winger wouldn’t be surprised to see the right-back play a more prominent role as a central defender under the German manager.
Tavernier’s current contract at Ibrox expires next summer, and it remains to be seen whether the 34-year-old has more to give in G51 or away from it at the end of the season.
Rohl may also lose John Souttar soon, with the Scotland international also in the final months of his contract at the Glaswegian outfit, leaving them with a significant decision on their defensive personnel for the 2026-27 campaign.
Rangers should extend James Tavernier contract
Templeton believes Tavernier should stay at the Gers beyond this season, as it’s evident that Rohl likes him.
However, the Scotsman wonders whether the former Sheffield Wednesday boss already has a younger replacement lined up for the Ibrox captain.
Also, depending on the Light Blues’ finances, a pay cut may be on the cards for the English defender if he’s offered a new deal.
Speaking to the Daily Record on 16 November, Templeton said: “It depends if Rohl wants to bring in his own players. He might want to go younger and already has a right-back in mind. It could also come down to finances. Tav might have to take a cut, so there are loads of factors.”
“But I think he should stay because he’s still performing well and his numbers are good. He’s playing every week, and Rohl obviously likes him. He can also play different positions, he can now play in a back three as well. It wouldn’t surprise me if you see more of that.”
Max Aarons could’ve potentially been a replacement for Tavernier, but with the Bournemouth loanee flopping at the Glaswegian outfit, it would definitely make sense to keep hold of the skipper.
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James Tavernier importance highlighted with one key statistic at Ibrox
Youssef Chermiti and Bojan Miovski have failed to live up to expectations at Ibrox, with the two number nines struggling to score goals in G51.
Rangers have seen their form turn around in recent weeks domestically under Rohl, but the German manager would certainly like a more prominent goalscoring threat in his team.
| Player | Goals |
| James Tavernier | 6 |
| Djeidi Gassama | 6 |
| Findlay Curtis | 3 |
| Danilo | 3 |
Tavernier and Djeidi Gassama are the joint top scorers for the Light Blues this season, with six each, highlighting the impact they’ve had this season.
While many fans feel the English defender should’ve been replaced long ago, for now, he’s arguably one of the best defensive options the Glaswegian outfit have on their books.
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