Rangers captain James Tavernier looks to be edging closer to the Ibrox exit door.
After nine years and over 400 appearances in Glasgow’s southside, the 32-year-old Ibrox captain is set to quit the Gers in this transfer window.
Turkish side Trabzonspor launched a bid for Tavernier ahead of the weekend with the high-earning right-back potentially set to join Borna Barisic and John Lundstram at the Black Sea club.
Rangers captain Tav has already agreed personal terms with the Turkish side but, according to the likes of Sky Sports, Rangers have rebuffed the initial approach due to the transfer fee on offer.
There have since been reports of English interest in Tavernier in the aftermath of the bid from Turkey with the right-back’s situation very much live.
But now Rangers News have learned that one of James Tavernier’s former Ibrox managers has given the green light for his new club to hijack Trabzonspor’s efforts.
Ex-Gers boss wants Tavernier
Rangers News have learned from reliable sources that James Tavernier is a wanted man across Europe and the Middle East.
But so far only Trabzonspor have tested Rangers’ resolve with an official offer for the Ibrox skipper.
That could be about to change however after Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who managed Tavernier to the Europa League Final, has given his go-ahead for Besiktas to launch a bid.
Van Bronckhorst has been backed at Bestikas in a way he never was at Rangers and we can exclusively reveal the Istanbul club are willing to match any Trabzonspor offer for the Ibrox captain.
Whilst Besiktas are yet to officially enter the race, they have a close eye on the situation with Tavernier as Trabzonspor ready a second offer.
Should ex-Rangers manager Gio launch the bid, then the Ibrox skipper with have to choose between a link-up with his former gaffer at Besiktas or with two of his former teammates at Trabzonspor.
Rangers News has also learned that there is concrete interest in the Rangers captain from elsewhere too, with clubs in Greece, France and Saudi Arabia monitoring the situation.
For the time being, it remains unclear if another of James Tavernier’s former Rangers managers in Steven Gerrard is considering an offer.
The Anfield legend is currently in charge of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq and has been repeatedly linked to a move for Tavernier, who Gerrard made Rangers captain in 2018.
Tavernier went on to flourish under Giovanni van Bronckhorst on the Europa League Final run to Seville in 2022, winding up the competition’s top scorer that season with seven goals.
Rangers look to kickstart transfer window
Rangers fans certainly have mixed emotions over the situation with James Tavernier at Ibrox.
The marauding Rangers right-back has been a fixture of the club’s starting XI for the best part of a decade and any exit will result in a period of uncertainty.
But with James Tavernier approaching his 33rd birthday in October, this transfer window could represent the last chance to get a respectable fee for the former Wigan Athletic wing-back.
If Rangers are serious about kicking what is a stuttering player trading model into life, for that reason alone it makes sense to cash in now with Tav’s contract up in 2026.
According to leading Rangers fan media outlet Heart & Hand, the Gers could recoup as much as £4m for Tavernier as part of any deal.
The Rangers captain is also amongst the club’s highest earners with an exit freeing up substantial space on the wage-bill to be spent elsewhere.
According to the likes of Salary Sport, the Rangers captain earns £30k per week at Ibrox, or just over £1.5m per season.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement has previously been clear that the Gers will need to sell before they can buy this transfer window.
James Tavernier is one of a number of key players who have been linked with the Rangers exit door and any transfer out of Ibrox will symbolise the end of an era at the club.
Under Tavernier’s captaincy, Rangers have lifted the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup and League Cup.
The right-back’s monumental performances also drove the club to the Europa League Final, which ended in penalty kicks heartbreak against Eintracht Frankfurt.
