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With Lee Hodson’s Rangers future uncertain, are Sunderland’s James Tavernier hopes over?

Chris Coleman manager of Sunderland during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sunderland and Reading at Stadium of Light on December 2, 2017 in...
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Scottish Premiership side Glasgow Rangers could let one right-back go in the January transfer window but Championship giants Sunderland may be disappointed.

James Tavernier of Rangers controls the ball during the Betfred League Cup Quarter Final at Firhill Stadium on September 19, 2017 in Glasgow, Scotland.

If one right-back was to leave Rangers this month, speculation suggested that it would be James Tavernier.

As reported by the Daily Mail, the Glasgow giants were willing to listen to offers for the swashbuckling full-back this month, with Sunderland and Reading keen to bring the 26-year-old back to England with just 18 months remaining on his contract.

It was understood that one-time Newcastle United youngster Tavernier was up for a move south of the border. And Sunderland would have been pulling off a superb deal bringing in a player who has accumulated an impressive four goals and six assists from right-back this season.

James Tavernier of Rangers vies with Scott Sinclair of Celtic during the Scottish Premier League match between Celtic and Ranger at Celtic Park on December 30, 2017 in Glasgow, Scotland.

But with the Scottish Sun reporting on Wednesday that his fellow right-sider Lee Hodson is now facing an uncertain future at Ibrox, is Tavernier set to stay?

The report states that Northern Ireland international Hodson could be offered as a makeweight in their attempts to convince Kilmarnock to part with highly-rated winger Jordan Jones. Now, if Rangers fans were to choose one right-back to leave this month, surely the vast majority would point to Hodson rather than Tavernier.

Lee Hodson of Rangers (L) is put under pressure from Scott Sinclair of Celtic (R) during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park on March 12,...

While the number two is one of the first names on the team-sheet, offering creativity and thrust going forward, 26-year-old Hodson does not offer nearly the same attacking threat and, in truth, has never really looked like challenging Tavernier for a place in the XI.

He has made just five league starts this season. But reports that Hodson could leave in January is not good news for Sunderland, for whom Tavernier would have been an excellent addition.

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