Dundee United sporting director Tony Ashgar has admitted that Rangers-linked goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist could soon leave Tannadice on a free [The Courier].
During the January transfer window, the Daily Mail reported that the Gers were lining up a pre-contract move, with current first-choice keeper Allan McGregor expected to retire at the end of the season.
The Gers weren’t the only club credited with interest, though.
Premier League side Southampton were also said to be keen, while it was claimed that unnamed clubs in Germany, Belgium and France were all circling.
No agreement was struck last month but Siegrist’s future is still up in the air.
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Ashgar says contract negotiations are ongoing, but he admitted that there’s a chance that the 30-year-old will move elsewhere at the end of the season.
Rangers-linked keeper could leave Dundee United on free
“We are still in contract talks with Benjamin Siegrist and Ian Harkes (who has been linked with a move to England),” said Asghar [The Courier]. “Clearly, we’d love them to stay on as Dundee United players.”
“But I also realise they have done fantastically well for us. So, if they become free agents, there will be opportunities elsewhere for them.
“Ian has been here since 2019 and Benji since 2018. They have already given us good service but we’d love them to be here next season.”
Who will Rangers prioritise if McGregor retires?
Siegrist has been an impressive performer at Tannadice for the last few years and he’s kept 12 clean sheets so far this season.
That’s the same number as McGregor from exactly the same number of appearances.
He’s in particularly strong form right now, too, with four of those clean sheets coming in his last four outings.
The former Switzerland youth international isn’t the only stopper Rangers have been linked with, though.
The Gers have also been credited with interest in St Johnstone’s Zander Clark [Daily Record] and Martin Fraisl of Schalke [Daily Mail].
All three keepers are roughly the same age and thus have similar levels of experience, but Fraisl’s lack of Premiership experience could count against him.
Current third-choice keeper Robby McCrorie will be hoping that the club simply show faith in him and promote him to no.2 behind Jon McLaughlin, but the number of transfer rumours suggests that’s unlikely.
When Rangers take on Dundee United on Sunday, Siegrist will have a chance to impress and he could be playing alongside an exciting talent who reportedly rejected a move to Ibrox.