Dujon Sterling has agreed terms with Rangers and has visited the Ibrox club’s training ground as he closes in on a move from Premier League giants Chelsea.
If James Tavernier is Rangers’ answer to Trent Alexander-Arnold – a creative lynchpin from full-back – than 23-year-old Sterling could be more of an Aaron Wan-Bissaka-style figure north of the border.
The former Coventry City, Wigan and Blackpool loanee has not scored a goal nor provided an assist during the 2022/23 campaign at Stoke. But it’s his belligerent one-v-one defending and expert positional sense that marks him out as a potentially inspired addition.
Sterling’s arrival will give Mick Beale a more defensively-minded alternative to Tavernier, providing a different dimension on the right-hand side.
Chelsea’s Dujon Sterling is on his way to Rangers
The Standard reported on Thursday that the Chelsea graduate was closing in on a move. His contract at Stamford Bridge expires in July.
The Daily Record now add that Sterling has agreed terms with Rangers, after holding talks with Beale. He has also travelled to Glasgow to visit the club’s training ground.
Kieran Dowell or Jack Butland, who are leaving Norwich City and Crystal Palace respectively, were expected to become Beale’s first of many summer additions. Sterling could now pip both of them to the post; the London-born stopper reuniting with a coach he knows from his time in the Chelsea academy.
“Dujon, for me, is arguably one of the best one-on-one defenders I’ve seen. There are very few players who get past him,” Stoke boss Alex Neil tells Lancs Live.
“He is strong, powerful and determined.”
Rangers are reportedly on the verge of signing goalkeeper Butland and the elegant Dowell too.
The former will replace 41-year-old shot-stopper Allan McGregor. The latter, who could be reunited with ex-Norwich team-mate Todd Cantwell, will join Nicolas Raskin in a new-look midfield, although he will have to oust Ryan Jack first with the long-serving enforcer expected to sign a new one-year deal at Ibrox.
