Rangers are plotting a £2.1million swoop to bring Scottish left-back James Penrice back to Premiership football, with reports in Greece confirming AEK Athens are already actively seeking a replacement.
According to an update from Greek outlet Sportime on 20 July, the Ibrox hierarchy have re-examined their interest in the 27-year-old defender after seeing a previous approach knocked back in January.
While AEK previously held firm after luring him away from Hearts in a £2m deal last summer, their stance has thawed significantly heading into the core of the summer transfer window.
Is James Penrice a good signing for Rangers? 🤔
AEK Athens hunting replacements, Rangers opportunity
Reports in the Greek press do not sugarcoat Penrice’s fragile position in Athens, indicating that the Scottish full-back has struggled to convince head coach Marko Nikolic.
Despite featuring late in the campaign, Penrice remains far from a focal point in the manager’s long-term thinking.
Nikolic retains a firm belief in Greek defender Stavro Pilo and has previously requested that sporting director Javier Ribalta prioritise bringing in a new primary left-back option.
A lacklustre pre-season has only solidified the feeling in Greece that Penrice is struggling to live up to his £2m price tag or the high expectations surrounding his move.
As AEK work on bringing in a fresh face on the left flank, the door is set to open for Penrice to return to the UK.
Although the Greek side are protected by a contract through 2028, Rangers are tipped to test their resolve with a bid below £2.1m once a replacement arrives.
Rangers take on Saint-Etienne in their first public friendly of the summer on Wednesday…
Cammy Devlin and Ivor Pandur are in contention!
Proven domestic pedigree for Derek McInnes
For manager Derek McInnes, Penrice represents an ideal, low-risk domestic addition.
The defender earned widespread plaudits in Scotland across previous stints with Partick Thistle, Livingston and Hearts, where he was named the club’s player of the year before moving abroad.
Beyond his tactical fit and ability to challenge Tuur Rommens for a starting spot, bringing Penrice to Glasgow provides a crucial boost to Rangers amid Andrew Cavenagh‘s promise to add more homegrown faces to the roster.
The final green light rests on AEK’s movement in the transfer market, but with Penrice slipping down Nikolic’s hierarchy, Rangers are positioned to strike the moment the Greek side sanction his release.
