'It's possible' - Sky Sports pundit: Rangers player's time at Ibrox may be coming to an end

Andy Walker believes it’s possible that James Tavernier’s time at Rangers is coming to an end. The Englishman was dropped for the 1-1 draw against... The post 'It's possible' - Sky Sports pundit: Rangers player's time at Ibrox may be coming to an end appeared first on Ibrox News.

Nov 9, 2024 - 18:00

'It's possible' - Sky Sports pundit: Rangers player's time at Ibrox may be coming to an end

Andy Walker believes it’s possible that James Tavernier’s time at Rangers is coming to an end.

The Englishman was dropped for the 1-1 draw against Olympiacos on 7 November and in Walker’s opinion, Philippe Clement’s side looked better off without the Englishman.

The 33-year-old has a testimonial coming up to celebrate his time at Ibrox since he joined from Wigan in 2015.

Walker, a Sky Sports pundit, told Go Radio’s Football Show, as quoted by Football Scotland on 8 November: “I think they’re just trying to, I don’t know, just find a different combination, a different understanding with people at the back.

“It’s possible that Tavenier’s time is coming to an end I know he’s got a testimonial coming up but when you look at the way Rangers played last night when you looked at how comfortable they were at times against tough opposition, they won the Conference League last season, and just the way that they kept the ball.

“The big thing for me was just the very basics of fight and determination and giving everything for your shirt just to chase a loose ball. I thought the wide players were good as well, Cerny, Bajrami. And in the middle of the park, you know, we’ve mentioned Connor Barron and [Nicolas] Raskin.”

Rangers must cash in on James Tavernier in the summer

With Tavernier’s contract set to run for another year after the summer, it’s a strategic moment for the club to consider cashing in on their long-serving captain.

His recent omission from the starting lineup in the match against Olympiacos, where the team performed well without him, suggests that his influence might be waning.

As he approaches 35 in a couple of years, his market value will only decrease further, making now an opportune time to secure a transfer fee rather than risk losing him for free or at a lower value later.

Tavernier has been a stalwart for Rangers, but his performance levels have not been as impactful as in his earlier years at Ibrox.

Moving on from him could provide financial benefits and allow the club to invest in younger, potentially more dynamic options that align with the current tactical setup under Clement.