Swansea City have blocked Morgan Whittaker’s potential move to Rangers until they have a manager in place with head coach Russell Martin seemingly on his way to recently-relegated Southampton.
Martin, a former Ibrox centre-half, felt the need to issue an apology to the Rangers fans following the close of the January transfer window; his Swans side rejecting a number of offers – including one worth £2 million – for a player who rapidly emerged as one of Mick Beale’s leading transfer targets.
“I’ve got a brilliant relationship with (Morgan Whittaker),” the Swansea boss said at the time.
“I’ve had Rangers fans message me on LinkedIn saying ‘let him go’. I apologised to them saying ‘sorry I was crap at your club but it’s not my decision!’”
Now, with Martin on the verge of leaving Swansea for a fresh start at Southampton, Rangers may once again find themselves at the mercy of the whims of a manager as they look to belatedly lure former England U20 international Whittaker north of the border.
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According to Football Scotland, Rangers are ‘willing to lodge another bid’. But Swansea will not consider selling the stylish, left-footed Whittaker until they know who will be taking Martin’s place on the Liberty Stadium bench.
The logic, of course, rather sound.
Martin’s replacement, whoever that may be, could potentially view Whittaker – so impressive on loan at Plymouth Argyle in the first half of the campaign – as a key part of his plans going forward at Swansea City.
Whittaker scored nine goals and set up seven more in just 19 League One starts for eventual third-tier champions Plymouth. It was his scintillating form at Home Park which caught Beale’s eye, though the Rangers boss will likely face competition from one Steven Schumacher for the 22-year-old’s signature if Swansea do finally decide to sell.
Schumacher, Plymouth’s head coach, has made no secret of his desire to bring Whittaker back to Home Park on a full-time basis.
According to the Daily Record, meanwhile, Whittaker is ‘keen’ on joining a Rangers side who have already strengthened their squad with the signings of Kieran Dowell and Dujon Sterling this month.
“(Whittaker) is a top, top young player. He can play wide right or just behind the striker. He scores important goals, he’s a great dribbler and carries the ball well. He’s a fluid player who links into the attack very well and he’s got a fantastic left foot,” Jobi McAnuff, formerly of Cardiff, Crystal Palace and Watford, tells Sky Sports.
“I’m a little bit surprised by (the Rangers links). I thought there’d have been some real top-end Championship interest in him, because he has that huge potential to go on and have a really good career.
“If Rangers pull this off it’s a brilliant signing for them.”