Rangers could be about to lose one of their centre-backs.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard told the Daily Record last month in no uncertain terms that defender Fabio Cardoso would not be given the game time he requires, but will he now perform a u-turn?
The 38-year-old manager told the Scottish newspaper that he had informed Cardoso and Mexico international Eduardo Herrera that their game time would be “very limited”.
The Gers have lured two new centre-back signings to the club this summer in the form of Nikola Katic and Connor Goldson, after losing Russell Martin who rejoined parent club Norwich and David Bates to German side Hamburger SV.
That leaves Gerrard with little to choose from despite the signings. Katic and Goldson are expected to be first choice, while Rangers boast Cardoso, Bruno Alves and Aidan Wilson in reserve. Ross McCrorie is preferred in midfield.
However, Wilson is still very much unproven and now newly-promoted Serie A side Parma are interested in veteran Alves, with the Euro 2016 winner’s future at Ibrox very much in doubt.
The Scottish Sun have reported that 36-year-old Alves has flown to Italy in order to thrash out a deal to join Parma, a year after leaving Cagliari to join Rangers.
If Alves leaves the club, Gerrard would free up some room to sign a new defender, but he could be better off performing a surprise u-turn and handing Cardoso a second chance at Ibrox.
Cardoso, 24, who joined the club from Liga NOS side Estoril last summer as one of many Portuguese giants signed by former manager Pedro Caixinha, was ostracised during 17-18, playing just 76 minutes of Scottish Premiership football in 2018.
Gerrard may now be forced to eat his words and offer Cardoso the chance to remain in Glasgow, if he cannot find a centre-back to replace the loss of Alves.
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