Rangers are in the position where they need to sell before they can buy which is a problem easier solved on paper and in management simulator games than in reality.
Philippe Clement has been around long enough to know that every player has their price, even Jack Butland if the right cheque lands on Nils Koppen’s desk.
The manager has his work cut out but he will have been pleased to see Dujon Sterling pocket a £100m player in Jason Sancho at Murrayfield as James Tavernier’s future continues to look uncertain.
Just how hard will it be for Rangers to replace James Tavernier?
In terms of statistics, the skipper will be impossible to replace as analytics site Data MB explains:
“James Tavernier (Rangers, 32) might be the most dominant player *within his league and position* in the entire world, and we have the numbers to back that claim.”
📊 Tavernier vs Scottish Premiership fullbacks, 23/24
🥇 Assists – 1st
🥇 Key passes – 1st
🥇 Shot assists – 1st
🥇 Expected assists – 1st
🥇 Crosses – 1st
🥇 Shots – 1st
🥇 Goals – 1st
🥇 Non-penalty goals – 1st
🥇 Expected goals – 1st
🥇 Progressive runs – 1st
🥇 Accelerations – 1st
🥇 Touches in box – 1st
🥇 Attacking actions – 1st
🥇 Passes – 1st
🥇 Long passes – 1st
🥇 Forward passes – 1st
🥇 Through passes – 1st
🥇 Progressive passes – 1st
🥇 Progressive passes, % – 1st
🥇 Passes to final third – 1st
🥇 Passes to penalty area – 1st
🥇 Deep completions – 1st
“Out of 50 metrics we offer, he ranks first among his peers for… 22 (!) of them. Completely absurd.”
Rangers respond to Tavernier speculation as interest ramps up
Philippe Clement had a pre-arranged personal arrangement which meant he couldn’t handle any post match media obligations, however, Alex Rae was on hand to field questions about James Tavernier and a possible move to Trabzonspor:
“I have no idea. I don’t even know what the bid is. That is above my pay grade. There has been speculation throughout the course of Tavernier’s time here. He has been linked many times, there have been lots of rumours. We just deal with it as it happens. There is nothing to report as such.
“Listen, Tav is an integral part of what we do here and hopefully that continues. For me his being at this club is vital. He has been an integral part over recent years, I think 20-odd goals last year, so we will wait and see what happens – on all of them.”
Giovanni van Bronckhorst is also said to be keen to be reunited with his former captain and clubs in England have also been credited with an interest.
In short – it looks like Tavernier is on his way out.
There is no getting away from his ridiculous attacking output, however, as we saw against Man Utd, creativity wasn’t the issue, players like Cyriel Dessers and Scott Wright butchering good chances was.
Sterling is an accomplished footballer and will still be involved in the build up, just don’t expect him to be one of the most dominant players in his position, in the world.
