Rangers give emphatic response to bid for 26-year-old – report
By Derek Smithson
Rangers have turned down a bid from Nottingham Forest for defender James Tavernier, according to a report.
The Scotsman claim that the Gers have rejected an opening offer from the English Championship club for their 26-year-old first teamer.
It is understood that manager Pedro Caixinha is keen to offload the right-back this summer, but an initial bid has been rejected.
The report details that Forest are expected to return with a second bid for the full-back as they look to follow up their recent signing of Jason Cummings from Hibernian.
Forest manager Mark Warburton is keen to raid his former club Rangers this summer and he previously brought Tavernier to Ibrox two years ago.
The pair helped the Gers obtain promotion from the Scottish Championship, but Warburton was dismissed during last season as his side finished third.
Tavernier was a mainstay in the starting line-up last year, making 44 appearances across all competitions.
He is most recognised for his offensive work and chipped in with seven assists during the last campaign.
The Englishman produced phenomenal statistics during the 2015/16 Championship winning season, scoring 15 goals and supplying 23 assists in 50 appearances.
However, he was criticised at times last season in the top flight due to his defensive work and is a player that could leave in the summer under Caixinha’s major revolution.
Football Insider verdict:
Tavernier does divide opinion with fans as some feel he is too vulnerable defensively, but has has proven during his two-year spell at Ibrox to be a valuable player. The right-back is a brilliant asset down the right flank and gives the side a brilliant added dimension. He managed to cement his position under Caixinha at the back-end of last season, with Lee Hodson rivalling him all year for the starting spot. Tavernier, 26, should only improve under the boss and the Gers should keep him ahead of next season as they don’t want to completely tear the squad apart. A lot of the new Rangers signings are yet to play in Scottish football and it could be too big a risk changing too many things at once.
In other Rangers transfer news, they have been installed favourites to sign a four-time Premier League winner.
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