Rangers defender James Tavernier is set to extend his stay at Ibrox.
According to the Daily Mail, Rangers defender James Tavernier is close to signing a new contract after talks with director of football Mark Allen progressed well.
Rangers swooped to land Tavernier from Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2015, paying around £200,000 to land the former Newcastle United full back after a dismal spell at the DW Stadium.
Tavernier has been a star for Rangers though, scoring an impressive 23 goals in 126 games for the Gers, providing a major attacking threat down the right under Mark Warburton, Pedro Caixinha and now Graeme Murty.
Tavernier’s current deal expires in less than 18 months, but having opened talks over a two-year extension, it’s believed that talks with Rangers director of football Mark Allen have progressed well, and a deal is expected soon.
Fending off English clubs
Tying down Tavernier to a new deal is a smart move for a number of reasons, mainly because he is by far Rangers’ top right back, and arguably only behind Mikael Lustig in all of Scottish football.
The 26-year-old’s attacking play is vital for manager Murty, and making sure that he is contracted until 2021 is also important given recent links with a move back to England.
The Daily Mail reported in December that Reading and Sunderland are just two of the Championship clubs interested in signing Tavernier, potentially offering him a return south of the border.
However, with a new deal now close, those English clubs appear to have been fended off, and that’s a major signal of intent from Rangers over one of Warburton’s finest signings as Gers boss.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
