Michael Beale has hinted that Rangers were priced out of a move for Sheffield United-bound Arsenal defender Auston Trusty this summer.
The Ibrox manager was answering questions on the club’s summer recruitment following the devastating 5-1 Champions League Playoff defeat to PSV Eindhoven.
Namely, the Ibrox boss was forced to explain comments he made about needing one new centre-back signing and a Ryan Kent replacement before the transfer window slams shut.
Explaining the comments, the Rangers boss suggested that the club were eventually priced out of a move for a Premier League defensive target earlier in the window.
Michael Beale hints at Rangers Auston Trusty interest
Given the extensive links between Rangers and Auston Trusty earlier in the summer, it doesn’t take Colombo to work out who Michael Beale is talking about here.
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“Without giving any inside or outs or names or anything we went a long way down the road with a left centre-back earlier in the window,” said Beale.
“To provide competition for Ben and the fact that we wanted to work with a back three this season, ideally we wanted that option.
“We were priced out, he moved to a Premier League club for more that what we were willing to pay and that was all of us.
“That wasn’t the Board not willing to pay and me thinking, you know, the price he went for was outside we though the value of that player.”
Whilst we can’t confirm nor deny that Michael Beale is talking about Auston Trusty here, everything points to the ex-Arsenal defender.
Interestingly, if Auston Trusty is the man being spoken about here, then the comments of Michael Beale also suggest Sheffield United overpaid for the centre-back.
Having spent last season on loan at Birmingham City, the newly-promoted Blades paid a reported £5m to sign the USA cap this summer.