Coach demands new club sign Rangers star ahead of official unveiling - report

Giovanni van Bronckhorst wants to reunite with Rangers captain James Tavernier at new club Besiktas, according to Bulent Uslu.

The TGRT Haber TV pundit reported via Twitter on 9 June that a spokesman of the Turkish Super Lig club says a move is now wanted by the former Ibrox boss, who Sozcu (9 June) report is set to arrive in his new job at Besiktas this week, with a tour planned for Thursday before his official unveiling on Friday (14 June).

Tavernier has already been heavily linked to another one of his previous Light Blues managers in Steven Gerrard, with the Daily Record reporting on 24 May that the former England and Liverpool star wants both the right-back and Gers teammate Connor Goldson in Saudi Arabia at Al-Ettifaq.

The current Rangers skipper won the Scottish Premiership title under Gerrard, before lifting the Scottish Cup and making a run to the Europa League final under successor Van Brockhorst.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Steven Gerrard both want Rangers captain

Tavernier may be a polarising figure at times among the Rangers fanbase but the time will be coming sooner or later when the club have to find a way to replace him.

At 32 he remained virtually ever-present under Philippe Clement, with the same praise and criticism as always coming his way for his continued attacking output and defensive deficiencies.

Links to a Saudi move where he would team back up with Gerrard have followed the Englishman around for about a year now and while Tavernier called it “speculation” towards the end of the season he didn’t outrightly dismiss it, and if two former managers are now battling to bring him in it might be now that the club decides to cash in if it funds new signings.

If he does go he will leave a big gap to fill behind him, in terms of goals and assists if nothing else, so even if Clement were to secure a solid defensive replacement he would still have a big job to replace the attacking output in the forward positions.

Dujon Sterling arrived as the potential heir apparent a year ago but has since developed into emergency cover for every position but probably a central midfield option above all.

But there has been an indication that Rangers are open to the possibility of a transition away from their captain this summer, as interest in Arsenal’s Reuell Walters is said to only be acted on if the club moves a right-back during the summer [Daily Record, 4 June].

In other Rangers news, Clement’s latest transfer pursuits is said to be “good news” as he chases exactly what the side needs.

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