Rangers have been handed a significant green light in their long-running pursuit of left-back James Penrice, with reports revealing that AEK Athens would be prepared to cash in on the defender.
According to Greek outlet Sportime, the 27-year-old Scot has fallen out of favour under AEK head coach Marko Nikolic.
Despite arriving in a high-profile £2million move from Hearts just last summer, Penrice’s time in the capital appears to be coming to an unceremonious end.
With Derek McInnes actively searching for quality alternatives to provide fierce competition for Tuur Rommens, as evidenced by the Gers’ interest in Corrie Ndaba, this could not have dropped at a better time for the Ibrox recruitment team.
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Marko Nikolic losing patience: The inside reality
Reports pull no punches regarding Penrice’s standing at the club, explicitly stating that the former Livingston and Hearts man was never one of Nikolic’s favourites.
While Penrice saw a slight uptick in minutes during the final quarter of AEK’s league campaign, the managerial hierarchy remains deeply unconvinced.
Nikolic has reportedly placed his ultimate trust in Greek defender Stavro Pilo and has previously demanded that sporting director Javier Ribalta source an immediate left-back replacement.
Worse still for Penrice, his performances during this pre-season have failed to change the narrative.
The player is constantly losing ground in the manager’s estimation, failing to justify either the heavy external expectations or the £2m investment spent on his signature.
Rangers stance: The homegrown solution
Rangers’ interest in Penrice is well-documented. The club attempted to lay the groundwork for a deal in the January window, only to see their initial advances firmly rebuffed.
However, with AEK now increasingly likely to open the floor to left-back discussions if a suitable bid arrives, the landscape has completely shifted.
For McInnes, Penrice represents an incredibly logical tactical addition. Beyond his proven pedigree in the Scottish Premiership, his status as a homegrown player is favourable.
Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough are said to have enquired about the defender’s availability, while Rangers are acknowledged as silent observers so far.
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The Ibrox verdict: Time to act
AEK Athens appear ready to cut their losses, but the financial terms will dictate whether Rangers move forward.
With Penrice failing to gel with the team, the Greek giants will likely look to recoup as much of their £2m outlay as possible.
If Rangers can negotiate a disciplined, structurally flexible deal for the out-of-favour defender, Penrice could easily provide the elite domestic stability and tactical versatility that McInnes craves.
