Exclusive: Joe Rothwell has played his last Rangers game amid Sheffield United reveal
Joe Rothwell is keen to leave Rangers as interest mounts in him ahead of the January transfer window, sources have told Football Insider.
The midfielder arrived at Ibrox as part of a host of summer signings for Russell Martin, but the Gers are already pushing to try and move him on at the earliest opportunity.
Sources have indicated that a move back to England suits all parties, after Football Insider revealed last week that Rothwell is being chased by Championship clubs.
The 30-year-old has played just twice under Danny Rohl since he took the reins back in October, and that has prompted Rangers to try and seek a move for him in January.
Sheffield United view Rothwell as a particularly attractive option, with his promotion-winning experience in the Championship seen as a huge plus in his name.
Joe Rothwell has already played his final game for Rangers
Rangers fans have responded strongly to the interest in Rothwell, with several supporters taking to social media in recent days to express their desire to see him leave as soon as possible.
The summer signing simply hasn’t worked out at all for the Glasgow giants, and the veteran has been cut adrift to the edge of the squad since Martin’s dismissal at the start of October.
Rohl has handed him just one solitary start since he arrived at the club, and that came in the 3-0 Europa League defeat to Brann in his first game in charge.
Since then, Rothwell has played just 19 minutes of football in the Premier Sports Cup and hasn’t even made a matchday squad since the home win over Livingston on 22 November.
As a result, it is highly likely that he has already pulled on the Rangers shirt for the final time ahead of an imminent January departure.
Rothwell’s excellent recent record in the Championship
Sheffield United have had a difficult Championship campaign so far, but they have shown signs of life under Chris Wilder of late.
The Blades had been on a six-game unbeaten run prior to their defeat to West Brom last time out, and that has seen them climb up to 18th in the table.
They will be desperate to strengthen their squad further this winter to continue that push, and that is where Rothwell’s experience may come in.
The ex-Bournemouth man was a vital part of the Leeds United team that won the second-tier title last term, and was also promoted through the play-offs with Southampton back in 2023-24.
He boasts over 200 appearances in the Championship throughout his career, and if he moved to Bramall Lane in January, then a third successive promotion could become an outside possibility.