Rangers were linked with a move for Bournemouth defender Simpson in the summer.
Steven Gerrard’s work in the transfer window since becoming Rangers manager has paid dividends. The Gers look a much stronger side than the one that began the 2017-18 campaign under Pedro Caixinha – but there was a hole in his side until late on in the window.
Despite signing Nikola Katic and Connor Goldson early on, Rangers had waved goodbye to Bruno Alves, David Bates, Russell Martin and Fabio Cardoso in the summer and were short at centre-back.
The signings of Gareth McAuley and Joe Worrall on loan from Nottingham Forest only came late on, with Rangers trawling the English Football League for added competition at the heart of their defence.
The likes of Bolton’s Mark Beevers, Millwall’s Jake Cooper and Blackpool’s Curtis Tilt were all linked, but they have remained at their clubs and continue to impress in the senior sides.
But Bournemouth’s Jack Simpson will surely be wondering what if, after Eddie Howe blocked a move for the 21-year-old to move north of the border to Ibrox, according to the Daily Echo.
Highly-rated at the vitality stadium, Simpson has made six senior appearances for Bournemouth and even scored for the Cherries, coming against Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup last season as Howe’s side won 3-1.
Despite all his potential, Simpson will surely be wishing he joined Rangers and Gerrard, though, after a frustrating start to the 2018-19 campaign. Indeed, the defender has failed to make Bournemouth’s bench for any of their eight league games.
He has played in both Carabao Cup matches, but Howe’s decision to block a move to Ibrox will have given Simpson hope that he may gain more involvement in the first team.
Two months on from Howe’s decision to reject a move, Simpson will be wondering why he was kept at the Vitality Stadium instead of joining Rangers.
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