Writing is on the wall for Rangers assist king as reported mega-money PL transfer touted
COMMENT By Richard Parks
By the time the final whistle is called on the summer window, there is no chance that James Tavernier will still be a Rangers player.
Even the seemingly imminent arrival of Steven Gerrard will not be enough to stave off the inevitable.
Not with Premier League clubs lined up to throw wads of cash at the best player at Ibrox, in each of the two seasons since their top-flight return.
The Mirror’s live transfer blog (Saturday, 9.41pm) claims that the Premier League clubs are keen to land Tavernier even though he penned a new deal earlier this year.
It is said that Swansea are in the driving seat in the race for the 27-year-old, although there is also interest from Everton Burnley.
Tellingly, there will be “riches” on offer from the English big guns. Neither Tavernier or Rangers will avoid the temptation to cash in.
The new contract the right-back signed in February was purely a device to ensure the Glasgow giants enhanced the market value of their prize asset.
By tying Tavernier down until 2021, it will require a multi-million pound offer – perhaps close to £5million – to extract the defender from Govan in the summer.
Of all the Rangers players, none are more consistent or of a higher standard than Tavernier. Indeed, he is probably the only member of the squad who is good enough to play regularly for a Premier League side, although Declan John, Josh Windass, Ross McCrorie and Josh Windass could eventually develop to reach that level.
Tavernier is good enough now, and, with his performances on the right flank demonstrating his defensive nous and huge attacking threat.
Since signing from Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2015, the Englishman has scored 25 goals and supplied 39 assists in 136 appearances.
Those are impressive numbers and he has been a fine Ger. Just don’t expect to see him beyond August.
In other Rangers news, the club have sealed two new signings and three more are in the pipeline in an ASTONISHING transfer blitz before the window even opens.
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