Rangers boss Mark Warburton has signed several former players at Ibrox.
Rangers are just starting to get busy in the transfer window, as they look to build on a positive end to 2016 in the Scottish Premiership.
Emerson Hyndman has arrived on loan from Bournemouth until the end of the season whilst Arsenal midfielder Jon Toral is also set to make a move to Glasgow.
But there is one option that many would have suspected Rangers would have an interest in.
Brentford’s Alan Judge and Burnley’s Joey Barton in action
Alan Judge seems to be up for grabs at Brentford, where he was managed by Rangers boss Mark Warburton. The Ibrox gaffer has already shown a propensity toward signing his former players and Judge would be a star in the Scottish Premiership.
It was recently reported by The Sun that Newcastle United could be about to complete a £600,000 move for the Brentford playmaker – who is out of contract in the summer.
That is a bargain so why are Rangers not fumbling around trying to get a deal done?
It’s simple, Judge is a Celtic fan.
Back in March of last year Judge insisted he’d love to play under Rangers manager Warburton again but the Irishman made it clear that could not be at Ibrox, telling the Scottish Sun:
Alan Judge celebrates after scoring the first goal for Brentford from the penalty spot
“I wouldn’t be going to Rangers, not a chance.
“I had that call in the summer and I went ‘Are you kidding me? I’d get killed if I went up there!’.
“Was I asked? Yeah, of course he did, but no, not a chance.
“I’ve a lot to thank him (Warburton) for and I’d really look forward to working with him in the future if that’s possible.
“It’s a possibility only if he ever moves on. He’s a guy I’d like to work with again.”
Those comments seem categorical. If Warburton was head coach anywhere else, there is no doubt he would be making a move to bring Judge in. But the 28-year-old simply cannot be an option for Rangers now after those comments.
But hopefully Hyndman and Toral can have a big impact at Rangers.
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