Rangers manager may be looking to reunite with Jose Abella at Ibrox – and this means Lee Hodson faces another season out of the starting XI.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha
Rangers and Celtic clashed six times in all competitions last season. And an aggregate scoreline of 16-4 in favour of Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops ruthlessly highlighted the chasm in quality between these time-honoured rivals.
However, it’s no coincidence that the only time Celtic failed to beat Rangers in league and cup in 2016/17, the 1-1 draw at Parkhead in March, Lee Hodson lined up on the right hand side of defence.
The 25-year-old may not be the most exciting of full-backs, unlike uber-attacking counterpart James Tavernier, but his solid, pragmatic approach brought the soaring Scott Sinclair down to earth with a bump in an edgy Scottish Premiership draw.
Rangers’ Lee Hodson barely gave Scott Sinclair a sniff
Yet, Hodson’s stand-out performance in the final game of Graeme Murty’s caretaker reign may not be enough to encourage manager Pedro Caixinha to hand him a bigger role at the club beyond this summer.
One in, one out?
According to the Daily Record, the Portuguese coach has made a number of Rangers’ first-team squad available for transfer this summer, including Barrie McKay and Joe Garner.
However, the report added that Hodson may be permitted to remain at Ibrox – with Tavernier instead made available for as little as £1.25 million.
Nonetheless, the Daily Record add that Rangers are still in the market for reinforcements at right-back. The Glasgow giants have been linked with former Mexican Under-20 international Jose Abella in recent weeks with Caixinha knowing him well from their time together at Santos Laguna.
And the Liga MX club’s president, Alejandro Irarragorri, has confirmed that Caixinha is in negotiatons about bringing one of his former players to Ibrox with Abella the most likely candidate.
Jose Abella
However, with Hodson being handed just 11 Scottish Premiership appearances in 2016/17, Abella’s arrival means he is likely to spend another season glued to the bench.
According to the Scottish Sun, Charlton Athletic are interested. And perhaps Hodson should consider their offer.
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