As Rangers reportedly close in on versatile Chelsea full-back Dujon Sterling, it sends a message that no-one, not even Ibrox skipper James Tavernier, is safe from Michael Beale’s revamp.
The Gers captain has been a largely untouchable presence on the right-hand side, with his marauding runs once again heralding a season of astonishing returns for a right back.
You can add the 17 goals and nine assists this season into a quite ridiculous return of 100 goals and 116 assists in total since Tav joined the club in 2015.
But it really is quite telling when the club’s best player and biggest goal threat is a right-back, and perhaps an over-reliance on James Tavernier’s unsustainable numbers is actually stifling the club’s blunt attack.
There are also major issues with the defensive side of Tavernier’s game; the Ibrox team’s incredible inability to deal with low crosses into the box too often coming on the side of the Rangers captain.
There is no doubt that Tavernier’s contribution far outweighs his often alarming defensive record but, at the same time, Rangers have had no alternative if they hoped to change tact; until now.
James Tavernier set for Dujon Sterling Rangers challenge
According to reports, Dujon Sterling could become the first official new signing of Michael Beale’s summer rebuild as his loan deal with Stoke City comes to an end and his contract expires at Chelsea.
At 23 years old, and with ambitions in the English game, there is no doubt Sterling would be coming to Rangers with ambitions to play and that signals a challenge for Tavernier that he’s probably never had at Ibrox.
To all intents and purposes, Sterling appears to be a more defensive full-back option, considering he’s provided no goals and no assists for Stoke this season, but his signing would signal a couple of things.
A versatile player who can play either side as a full-back, as part of a back-three and in midfield, Rangers would be signing a utility player who has substance and can be relied upon to fill in.
But Michael Beale is also sending a message to the Rangers team that everyone, including his captain, will need to buck up their ideas if they hope to retain their place in the team next season.
