Albertz says Paul Lambert must be Rangers defender Bates’ inspiration

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Former Celtic star Kris Commons and Rangers legend Jorg Albertz comment on David Bates’s decision to leave Ibrox in the summer transfer window.

Jorg Albertz has suggested to The Daily Record that Celtic legend Paul Lambert must be an inspiration to Rangers defender David Bates.

Former Rangers and Germany international midfielder Albertz, who was on the books of the Ibrox club from 1996 until 2001, has backed Bates’s decision to leave the Gers for Hamburg in Germany in the summer transfer window.

As reported by BBC Sport, Bates has agreed a four-year contract with Hamburg and will join the German club in the summer transfer window.

The 21-year-old central defender will move to the Bundesliga outfit on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Hamburg are struggling for survival in the Bundesliga at the moment and could get relegated to the second tier of German football at the end of the season.

Lambert, currently the manager of Premier League club Stoke City, played for Borussia Dortmund in Germany before moving to Celtic in 1997 and establishing himself as a legend at Celtic Park, winning the league title four times.

Albertz told The Daily Record: “This will be a huge disappointment for Rangers because when you lose a good young talent like him it’s not nice. Rangers need to keep their talented players for themselves.

“But at the same time the boy has to put himself forward and make his own way in the game – and there’s no doubt playing in the Bundesliga, even in the second tier, will make him a better player.

“Just as moving to Germany did for Paul Lambert and he must be the inspiration to try to follow.”

Former Celtic attacking midfielder Kris Commons has also given his take on Bates’s impending departure from Rangers.

Commons wrote in The Daily Mail: “If you can’t offer seven grand to a player who’s probably been your best centre-half this season, what on earth are they going to offer to someone else they are looking to sign?”

Moving on

Bates is a very good and promising young defender, and Rangers fans must be disappointed that he is leaving the club at the end of the season.

However, the Ibrox faithful should be optimistic that the club will find a suitable replacement for the 21-year-old, perhaps someone better, in the summer transfer window.