Scottish football manager and former defender Jim Duffy has waxed lyrical about Rangers captain James Tavernier and claims he’s better than the £69m right-back pair at Man United.
The former Hibs, Falkirk and Dundee boss was speaking on Clyde Superscoreboard (10/08/22) and was responding to a fan’s question on the qualities of the Rangers right-back.
Taking the opportunity to give his opinion on James Tavernier, Duffy is a clear that he believes the Rangers skipper can play for a top Premier League club.
Going further, the ex-Celtic youth player and former Morton, Dundee and Partick defender singled out Man United as a team who would be enhanced with the Englishman’s presence.
Erik ten Hag’s side preferred £19m Portuguese right-back Diogo Dalot over £50m Aaron wan Bissaka in the Man United defeat to Brighton over the weekend, and it’s clear Jim Duffy believes James Tavernier is better than both.
“I think he’s good enough for a top six team (in the Premier League),” said Jim Duffy.
“I look at Man Utd, and I look at who they’ve got at right-back, he’s (Tavernier) is better than their right-back in my opinion.
“That kind of level, I’ve no doubts whether it be Arsenal, Man U, any of these, I think he’s more than good enough to go and play certainly in the top half of the Premier League.”
Jim Duffy can’t believe a Man United haven’t come in for Rangers’ James Tavernier
This comes after a monumental few seasons at Rangers where Ibrox skipper James Tavernier continues to regularly churn out huge numbers for the side.
Now 30, Rangers have a wonderful player in their captain and Tav has once again started this season on the same form he finished the last.
Jim Duffy, who was last in charge of Ayr United, also claims that he is baffled no major Premier League club has tried to buy the Rangers skipper.
“I am absolutely baffled that no major English Premier League club have tried to buy James Tavernier,” said Duffy.
“I know Rangers fans don’t want to lose him, of course they don’t, but I’m just talking about his quality and his consistency.
“His consistency at the top level over the last two and a half years or so I think that his development as a player and as a captain has been nothing short of immense.
“I think his stats are a different level, but his performance levels, he’s a modern day full-back, his delivery, he’s a better defender as well, just all round a terrific player.
“I’m completely baffled as to why someone hasn’t come in when you see the amounts of money they’ve throwing about down south for players a lot less talented than him.”
Jim Duffy isn’t the only one who believes in the abilities of Rangers captain James Tavernier, with a former coach believing he’s good enough for the top two let alone the top six in England.