Report: Midfielder set for Wednesday medical with top-flight club ahead of Rangers exit
By Danny Wright
Andy Halliday is set to undergo a medical with Azerbaijani club FC Gabala on Wednesday ahead of his Rangers exit, according to a report.
The Scottish Sun claims that Pedro Caixinha has been looking to sell the midfielder since the end of last season, and a bizarre move to the Azerbaijain top flight.
It is understood that the 25-year-old will be shipped out on a season-long loan deal to Gabala, who could come to blows with Rangers in the second round of the Europa League qualifiers if Caixinha’s side manage to get past Progres Niederkorn.
Halliday moved to Ibrox in 2015 after a brief spell at Bradford while Mark Warburton was in charge.
He helped the Light Blues win the Scottish Championship title in 2015/16 and has made a total of 90 appearances across all competitions, scoring 15 goals and supplying eight assists.
However the former Middlesbrough man’s form dipped last term and played just 62 minutes of the final seven matches of the Scottish Premiership campaign.
Halliday has never played outside the UK so a move to Azerbaijain will be somewhat a step into the unknown for him after previous spells with Livingston, Walsall and Blackpool.
Football Insider Verdict
Halliday is one of many players that have failed to impress Caixinha and a move away from Ibrox is definitely good for his career. Sport in Azerbaijain is certainly on the up so it could prove to be a very fruitful loan move for him if Gabala manage to perform well in the Europa League and in domestic competitions. Hopefully, the Light Blues won’t have to pay any of Halliday’s wages while he’s away, but the move certainly seems to open up a permanent switch from the Glasgow giants in the future. There are still a number of players that Caixinha needs to move on this summer after already signing eight new players.
In other Rangers news, Caixinha is expected to experiment with his squad against Proges on Thursday.
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