James Tavernier may now end up staying at Rangers with Trabzonspor announcing the permanent transfer of right-back Pedro Malheiro.
The Turkish club issued an official announcement on 23 July via their X account that the 23-year-old will be joining this summer.
This could mean that they end their interest in Tavernier as Turkiye Gazetesi reported on 19 July that they had put the Malheiro deal on hold in order to pursue the English defender.
Trabzonspor made significant progress in signing the 32-year-old and even reached an agreement on personal terms with him. [Yağız Sabuncuoğlu]
The club’s president Ertugrul Dogan also appeared to be extremely bullish about signing a new right-back and it seems that after haggling with Gers over the fee, they decided to go for Malheiro.
He said on 19 July: “Our plan B (after Meunier’s departure) was ready and we took action immediately. Our new right-back will arrive in a day or two. Our only thought is to create a team that makes the fans happy, stands tall on the field and fights. Our fans should not worry. Trabzonspor will fight for the top.
“Today or tomorrow, Trabzonspor will complete the right-back transfer. We are planning to make 5-6 more transfers. We aim to complete 2-3 of them in the next 2-3 days.”
Rangers need to cash in on James Tavernier
This development suggests a shift in Trabzonspor’s priorities, potentially ending their pursuit of Tavernier.
Given this situation, Rangers might now need to explore alternative options for the 32-year-old.
One potential avenue could be attracting interest from Saudi clubs.
The financial resources available in the Saudi Pro League could provide Gers with a lucrative opportunity to sell Tavernier.
It’s also understood that Steven Gerrard is keen on a reunion with the right-back so this could work out well for the Ibrox outfit. [Al-Riyadiya on 12 July]
Such a move would not only secure a substantial transfer fee but also allow the club to reinvest in their squad, aligning with the club’s strategy under Philippe Clement.
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