Clement stance emerges after Rangers exit talks held by Tavernier - report

Philippe Clement is happy to continue working with Rangers captain James Tavernier now that he’s decided to stay, HITC reports.

According to the outlet’s website on 12 September the Light Blues were “open” to letting the right-back leave amid interest from Turkey in a late transfer during the fallout from the Celtic defeat.

Tavernier reportedly held talks with Istanbul giants Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, as well as Istanbul Basaksehir, but has chosen to stay at Ibrox.

Clement has “never singled out” the captain for criticism and is understood to be pleased to continue with him in the squad.

Rangers captain to stay after Galatasaray, Fenerbahce talks

Tavernier would probably be the first to admit his performances haven’t been good enough so far this season.

And Clement made it clear that he didn’t see the captain is indispensable during the summer when he named only Jack Butland as irreplaceable [Rangers Review, 14 July].

However, that was early in a transfer window that was expected to be far more active than it proved, and letting the skipper depart after the Scottish deadline is another prospect altogether.

In the circumstances it isn’t exactly a massive boost for Tavernier to stay since his form, and that of the team, is far from good.

But it does prevent a huge figure in the club’s recent history from being rushed out the back door in depressing fashion.

If the 32-year-old can return to something closer to his best then it would be a major benefit to Clement and the Light Blues, but he may benefit from a few games out of the line up first.

Timing can be everything and lately it has been dismal for Rangers, with a crushing Old Firm defeat at Celtic falling immediately after the close of the transfer window and leading into an international break that removed the chance to bounce back straight away.

Tavernier’s situation off the back of that then alerted sides whose transfer markets were still open [HITC, 6 September], but now he is set to stay his manager will hope for some relative calm once deadlines pass in Europe and the Middle East.

In other Rangers news, Clement has admitted he doesn’t know what he can spend in January while issuing an “impossible” transfer warning.

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