Joe Garner’s move to Rangers is still on, but there has been a delay.
Preston’s Joe Garner celebrates scoring a penalty
According to the Daily Express, Rangers manager Mark Warburton is still confident of securing a deal for Preston striker Joe Garner despite a minor hold-up in the deal.
With recent signing Joe Dodoo seen as one for the future and capable of playing out wide, Rangers boss Warburton has been looking for a centre forward throughout the summer transfer window.
Joe Garner of Preston North End shoots at goal
Reports throughout the week have suggested that Rangers are indeed close to landing a new striker, as STV reported on Monday that a deal of £1.5m – half of which will be paid now, half in 2017 – had been agreed for Preston striker Garner.
The 28-year-old may have only scored six goals in the Championship last season, but he hit 43 goals in two seasons in League One, becoming one of the most in-demand Football League strikers in the process.
Joe Garner celebrates scoring for Preston North End
A boyhood Preston fan who has been living out the dream of the North End crowd since his 2013 move from Watford, Garner is a cult hero at Deepdale – but appears to be closing in on an exit.
Rangers fans are hoping to see Garner sign on the dotted line ahead of this weekend’s home game with Motherwell, but the Daily Express report that there has been a snag in the deal – just as North End boss Simon Grayson suggested in an interview with BBC Radio Lancashire.
Joe Garner of Preston North End in action with Adam Forshaw of Middlesbrough
It’s claimed that a ‘contractual issue’ is holding up Garner’s move to Ibrox, but it isn’t believed to be on Rangers’ side of the deal, and manager Warburton is still expecting the deal to go through, hopefully in time to face Motherwell.
Garner was expected in Glasgow for a medical today, but Rangers have been left waiting for the all-clear from Garner’s camp, meaning the Gers are left in a race against time to get the deal done before facing Motherwell – but either way, Garner should still be a Rangers player by the close of the transfer window.
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