‘Everyone loves him

Former Rangers benchwarmer George Edmundson is now thriving at Ipswich Town with Premier League football not out of the question next season.

When Rangers accepted a reported £1 million from the Tractor Boys back in 2021 – George Edmundson leaving Ibrox after just eight Premiership appearances and joining an Ipswich side then in the third-tier of English football – even Derren Brown would have struggled to predict what would happen next.

Two-and-a-half years later, that very same Edmundson is now part of an Ipswich side flying high in second place in the Championship. Successive promotions, meanwhile, could see the late-blooming centre-half go from the Ibrox bench to the bright lights of the Premier League in next-to no time.

“Everyone loves him,” Ipswich team-mate Conor Chaplin told the East Anglian Daily Times after Edmondson’s colossal display during the 0-0 draw with Stoke City on New Years’ Day.

“He’s such a good guy and important part of the changing room and the dynamic. Big voice, big character.”

Edmondson has, in truth, been in and out of the Ipswich XI during his time in the South East.

But a couple more eye-catching displays in the absence of Cameron Burgess – who is on Asian Cup duty for Australia – and a player who joined Steven Gerrard’s Rangers from Oldham Athletic in 2019 may take some shifting from Kieran McKenna’s starting XI

“I thought George was a credit to himself at centre-half,” McKenna, who was tipped for the Gers job following the sacking of Mick Beale back in October, said of Edmundson after the FA Cup victory over AFC Wimbledon.

“He’s trained well over the last couple of months, been waiting for his opportunities and supporting his team-mates.

“He stood up really strong during those difficult first exchanges today and was composed all game. I thought he was excellent.”

But the Rangers manager will reportedly face some stiff competition for the English-born Colombian international, who has spent the first half of the season on loan at Standard Liege.

According to reports earlier in the week, La Liga pair Sevilla and Granada are interested in Steven Alzate but Rangers will note those reports around Idumbo Muzambo.

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