Rangers are prepared to sell James Tavernier as Qatari transfer interest develops ahead of their window closing, HITC reports.
According to the outlet’s website on 6 September the Light Blues would consider bids for the captain despite rejecting offers during the summer and the deadline in Scotland now having passed, with Al-Arabi and Al-Gharafa both ready to move for him.
Tavernier, 32, is said to have “shunned” interest from Saudi Arabia and Turkey during the window to help a title challenge under Philippe Clement.
But after a poor start to the season on the pitch the right-back was abused outside Ibrox in the wake of the 3-0 Old Firm derby defeat at Celtic and now could be available.
Philippe Clement to lose Rangers captain?
With the way the campaign has kicked off a late Tavernier exit might be an escape route that all involved are glad of.
The defender has looked a long way short of his best after an interrupted preseason, with none of his best attributes coming to the fore while his weaknesses have been exposed.
Talks with Trabzonspor during the summer [Sky Sports, 24 July] were expected to produce a move away after nine years in Glasgow, but in a summer where far less activity proved possible than had been anticipated the matter went quiet.
Clement was expected to launch a complete overhaul of the squad after falling short in the title race last term but exits were hard to come by and blocked incoming signings.
Vice-captain Connor Goldson was sold to Aris Limassol and the pair were expected to clear a major chunk of space on the wage bill [David Edgar, 22 July].
Dujon Sterling is in line to take over at right-back when the time comes but with the window closed it would leave Clement short until January if Tavernier were to go now.
The Belgian may have been glad of the room to manoeuvre by offloading the skipper’s contract weeks ago, but now the situation has turned so sour it might be a relief for the manager and the captain to land a move while it is still available.
Clearly such a development at this stage would not have been planned as the deadline approached, but just as with Rabbi Matondo, now out injured long-term soon after exit offers were resisted [Football Scotland, 5 September], plans have gone awry after the damaging trip to Parkhead.
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