Rangers ace who reportedly threatened to quit makes U-turn
By Alex Stevens
Martyn Waghorn has insisted that he is keen to extend his contract at Rangers in an apparent U-turn.
The Scottish Sun claimed before Christmas that the striker was unhappy he had not been offered an improved contract like some of his teammates and had told former manager Mark Warburton that he wanted to quit during showdown talks.
There was reported interest from Championship clubs Bristol City and Fulham during the January window but Waghorn remained at Ibrox.
The 27-year-old former Sunderland, Leicester and Wigan player slipped down the pecking order in the final months under Warburton but was reinvigorated by the management of caretaker Graeme Murty.
Waghorn was also named in the first team selected by new boss Pedro Caixinha and scored a penalty in Rangers’ 4-0 Scottish Premiership demolition of Hamilton at Ibrox on Saturday afternoon.
In what is a change of heart, the Englishman has admitted in a new interview that he has his eyes on a deal beyond his current agreement, which is due to expire in the summer of 2018.
“Everyone has two months to show what they can do,” Waghorn said, as quoted by the Daily Record. “Everyone is on trial but we have to believe in ourselves and focus on the jobs in hand, which are to finish second in the league and win the Scottish Cup.
“Who knows what the future holds? But I am going to give my all for the club and hopefully be here next season too.
“I’ve always said I would like to stay, extend my contract and be here for a long time. I have another year on my deal so we have plenty of time left. There’s no rush but hopefully I can stay in the team.”
Waghorn has watched Rob Kiernan, Wes Foderingham and James Tavernier get improved deals this season amid reports he wanted a wage increase to put him on a par with big earners Niko Kranjcar and Joe Garner.
The striker moved to Ibrox in the summer of 2015 and had an excellent debut campaign as he spearheaded Rangers’ Championship triumph and return to the top flight with 28 goals.
He has been less effective this season, scoring just six times in 23 league matches, although eight cup encounters have yielded a further nine goals.
In other Rangers news, one of the club’s midfielders has agreed the terms of a mammoth new deal.
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