Rangers transfer talks with Premier League defender collapse over wages - report

Rangers missed out on a deal to sign Ben Johnson on a free transfer over his wage demands, according to The Athletic.

Writing on their website (1 July), the news outlet reported that the club held talks with the former West Ham defender but it became clear that they could not afford his wages.

Johnson has since penned a four-year deal with Premier League new-boys Ipswich on a £60,000 per week deal [The Times, 26 June], ending a 17-year affiliation with the Hammers.

Rangers were never able to afford those wages for Ben Johnson

It was a bright idea by those in charge at Ibrox to get in contact with Johnson considering his contract at the London Stadium was expiring and he had no interest in renewing it, with his main aim being regular first-team football.

But the financial gap between the Premier League and SPFL has reared its head once more as newly-promoted Ipswich have been able to blow everyone out of the water with their wage offer.

Rangers were never going to be able or willing to pay that amount for a player, even if he would have come in and likely displaced captain James Tavernier as the first-choice right-back.

Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen’s transfer strategy thus far has been to find young talent who can be developed and eventually sold on for a profit, while still making Rangers better immediately.

Johnson certainly fits that criteria, but it was always a long shot and the Light Blues can now move on with alternative targets with this deal dead in the water.

In other Rangers news, a club owned by US billionaires wants to sign this Ibrox star.

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