Rangers want James Trafford but Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt is confident that the Manchester City loanee isn’t going anywhere.
The Daily Mail claim that Rangers are interested in luring City talent Trafford to Ibrox.
Rangers need to think about a goalkeeper signing either this month or at the end of the season.
Allan McGregor turns 41 later this month, Jon McLaughlin isn’t first-choice quality and Robby McCrorie just hasn’t been given a chance to shine.
Rangers need to find their goalkeeper for beyond the McGregor era and Trafford has emerged as a target for Ross Wilson and Michael Beale.
Trafford, 20, spent time with Carlisle United before being snapped up by Manchester City back in 2015.
Trafford is yet to make his first-team debut for City but has impressed in Football League loans at Accrington Stanley and now Bolton Wanderers.
Trafford backed to stay at Bolton despite Rangers interest
The England Under-21 International joined Bolton on loan in January 2022 having spent the first half of last season with Accrington.
Trafford played so well for the Trotters that boss Ian Evatt brought him back for the full season this term.
Whilst Trafford signed a new five-year deal with City last summer, it’s unclear whether he will have a first-team future at the Etihad Stadium.
Rangers will therefore look to tempt City into selling – but they are being told they will have to wait until the end of the season.
Bolton boss Evatt has told The Bolton News that City don’t even hold a recall clause in the loan deal, so there is no chance of him leaving this month.
“There is no recall option, so James will be here for the rest of the season,” said Evatt.
That kills off Rangers’ hopes of convincing City to recall the goalkeeper this month and then sell him on to Ibrox.
Yet Rangers can try and set the wheels in motion for a summer move, gauging just how much City would be seeking for the stopper at the end of the season.
That makes the most sense for everybody involved as Rangers start to think about life after McGregor.
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