Reliable journalist: Rangers in talks over terminating midfielder deal

Fri 29 December 2017 16:17, UK

Rangers are “officially in talks” with Gabala over terminating Andy Halliday’s loan deal to see him return to Ibrox in January, according to a reliable journalist.

Sunday Mail chief football writer Scott McDermott claimed on his personal Twitter account on Friday afternoon that the Light Blues are attempting to bolster their midfield options by reaching an agreement with Gabala to see Halliday, 26, return half way through his season-long loan.

Rangers now officially in talks with Gabala FK to end Andy Halliday's loan and bring him back to Ibrox in January…
— Scott McDermott (@scottmcdermott8) December 29, 2017

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Halliday secured a bizarre loan move to Azerbaijan outfit Gabala in the summer after being outcast from the Rangers first-team by then manager Pedro Caixinha.

However now that the Portuguese manager is no longer in Glasgow, it appears that the Gers have plans to make Halliday a part of their first-team set-up once again.

The former Middlesbrough midfielder has only made seven appearances across all competitions in the first half of the season in Azerbaijan so it seems likely that Gabala may consider terminating his loan early.

Football Insider verdict

Rangers really do need one or two new midfielders in January after injuries hit both Graham Dorrans and Ryan Jack. Kenny Miller is also due to spend a long time on the sidelines after also playing a deeper role in Graeme Murty’s system this season. Halliday will be great back-up as he is someone who knows the club and the manager, so it makes sense to do it. But it is also a sign that Rangers have no money to spend in the transfer market. It seems likely that Halliday will be brought back because the Gers might not be able to spend any money on filling the gaps left by Dorrans and Jack. It will do as a short-term fix to the injury problems, but does it improve the squad? Not at all.