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Rangers fans react as Mark Warburton targets James Tavernier reunion at Nottingham Forest

Rangers' fans (Reuters)
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Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton brought James Tavernier to Rangers in 2015 and, two years on, he is looking to take him away again.

Rangers' James Tavernier celebratesRangers’ James Tavernier

James Tavernier may have plied his trade at Ibrox for two years now but he continues to polarise supporters. An uber-attacking modern-day full-back who netted 15 goals to help Rangers back to the top flight in 2015/16, his defensive deficiencies were ruthlessly exposed in the Premiership last season.

Therefore, reports in The Scotsman that former Gers boss Mark Warburton has made a bid to reunite with Tavernier at Nottingham Forest was always going to elicit a mixed response.

Tavernier is one of the club’s most useful attacking assets, his energetic bursts down the flank and superb dead-ball ability making him responsible for a large portion of Rangers’ creative output.

On the other hand, however, understudy option Lee Hodson has looked far more solid defensively in the odd occasions he’s been given an opportunity in Tavernier’s place. So much so that some supporters have asked for the Northern Ireland intentional, who stood out as Rangers held Celtic to a 1-1 draw in March, to replace Tavernier in the starting XI.

Celtic's James Forrest in action with Rangers' Lee Hodson Rangers have a solid back-up option in Lee Hodson

And they may get their wish if Forest manage to convince Rangers to sell up this summer. However, while some supporters would happily drive him to Glasgow airport, or at least pay for his petrol, others will lament the loss of arguably the most exciting attacking full-back in Scotland.