Rangers could flog Joe Garner after just 12 largely awful months at Ibrox – but will he return to the English Championship.
Perhaps alarm bells should have been ringing in Rangers’ ears before they handed Preston North End £1.5 million for Joe Garner last summer, as reported by Sky Sports.
The striker may have found the net on a prolific basis to help The Lilywhites fight their way out of League One but, in 41 Championship appearances, Garner only mustered six goals in 2015/16.
Furthermore, the 29-year-old failed to find his feet in previous spells in the second tier at Nottingham Forest, Watford and a short-term loan spell at Scunthorpe United.
Therefore, perhaps it shouldn’t be too much of a shock that Garner hardly set the world alight during his debut season at Ibrox. In 34 games in all competitions, he struck just seven goals.
And while supporters admired his relentless work rate and his clear commitment to the cause, it’s fair to say they expected more inspiration than perspiration when shelling out such a comparatively large figure to bring him to Glasgow a year ago.
Therefore, according to the Daily Record, Rangers could already be prepared to cut their losses by letting Garner go – for just a fraction of the price they paid Preston for his services.
Garner struggled for form at Forest
The Express claim that Championship side Ipswich Town, themselves in desperate need of a reliable goalscorer, will offer Rangers just £500,000 for a frontman who appears far more at home in England’s third tier.
And if Rangers accept the bid, it will only confirm just how disappointing Garner has been at Ibrox.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha appears less than impressed
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