Rangers: Derek McInnes can right Hearts wrong with James Penrice transfer green light

Rangers are once again being linked with AEK Athens left-back James Penrice.

The Scotland national has been a long-term target for the Gers over the years and could be on the move again.

Last summer, the 27-year-old defender left Hearts to join the Greek club in a deal worth £2million plus add-ons.

Penrice is once again the subject of interest in the transfer window and Derek McInnes could finally have a chance to work with him at Ibrox.

Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers have enquired about the Scottish star's availability, with interest growing.

The left-back still has two years left on his current contract at AEK but could be back in the UK soon after a year away.

Derek McInnes' James Penrice regret

McInnes took the reins at Hearts last summer and turned them into the second-best team in Scotland, just missing out on the title on the final day of the season.

Before taking charge of a competitive game at Tynecastle Park, the Scottish manager lost Penrice and admitted it was a big blow.

The 55-year-old head coach seemed eager to work with the defender at the Jam Tarts, but it wasn't to be.

With talkSPORT journalist Ben Jacobs reporting on 9 July that Rangers "appreciate" Penrice, McInnes could right the wrongs made at Hearts and reunite with the AEK left-back.

Speaking about the defender's exit last summer, the Scottish manager said, "That was a blow for us because we were really looking forward to working with James. But such was the deal for the club and for the boy, it was the right thing.

"I thought it was a brilliant signing for Hearts when they got him. I tried to take him to Kilmarnock. I think he was almost like a young Andy Robertson when he got his move."

Rangers nowhere near done in transfer market

The Gers have already signed Lawrence Shankland, Ross McCrorie, Ben Godfrey, Ivor Pandur and Dan Neil this summer, but there's arguably still a lot of work that needs to be done.

The glaring issue facing McInnes is the lack of personnel in the backline, with at least one more centre-back and a left-back needed to provide appropriate depth.

Nicolas Raskin and Mohamed Diomande's futures will surely have a major effect on the Glaswegian outfit's moves for midfielders, while the Govan side still undoubtedly need a winger capable of replicating Mikey Moore's heroics from the 2025-26 campaign.

Penrice would fit the bill with another local signing, let's see if Rangers can get it over the line.