Glasgow Rangers are reportedly in talks about a deal that would see Bruno Alves leave Ibrox after just one season.
The Record suggests that Rangers may have to consider releasing the 36-year-old one year early and offering a pay-off to tempt him to take a pay-cut in his native country if they are willing to let him leave. It remains to be seen how the Gers may respond should Vitoria suggest such a deal taking place.
Alves has not enjoyed the best first year in the Scottish Premiership. He struggled for form under Pedro Caixinha and found game-time limited during Graeme Murty’s tenure. There were some flashes of brilliance from the veteran, but his performances were often not good enough to stop the fans regularly suggesting that letting Clint Hill go last summer was a mistake.
Nevertheless, given the centre-back options that Steven Gerrard will find when he takes over at Ibrox, it seems to make little sense to consider sanctioning Alves’ exit until new faces have arrived at least.
David Bates is leaving and Russell Martin’s loan spell does not look set to lead anything more substantial, leaving Fabio Cardoso and Ross McCrorie as the only other senior options, and in an ideal world, McCrorie would get a chance to shine further forward.
Rangers have been linked with a number of centre-backs in recent weeks, but letting Alves go before they have any new signings in that position is surely a gamble that will heap pressure on the club to get those players in – and the selling sides will know that and perhaps consider using Rangers’ desperation to drive the price up.
Alves may have been an underwhelming signing, but he is definitely good enough to turn his fortunes around, and Gerrard should consider keeping him – at least until new signings have been brought in.
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