Morgan Whittaker is a name which will be all too familiar to Rangers supporters.
During the ill-fated reign of Michael Beale, Rangers were cast into a very public pursuit of the then Swansea City attacker in January 2023.
There was some dispute surrounding the figures involved in Rangers’ bid for Whittaker but Ibrox interest in the winger looked clear from the off.
Having just been recalled from Plymouth, then Swansea boss Russell Martin even apologised to Rangers fans over the entire saga.
As things transpired, Morgan Whittaker wound up moving to Plymouth permanently the following summer and is coming off the back of a stunning season in the English Championship.
Now, Rangers’ interest is said to have been resurrected as a result of Whittaker’s 19 goals in the English second flight.
Not that Wayne Rooney knows anything about it.
Rangers want Whittaker
Heading into the next season, Plymouth have appointed English football legend Wayne Rooney as their new manager.
The Pilgrims retained their English Championship status last season, in no small part down to the goalscoring exploits of Morgan Whittaker, and Manchester United legend Rooney is determined to keep the attacker around.
Rooney has previously waxed lyrical about Whittaker and done so once again as reports of Rangers interest began to spread over the weekend.
The Daily Record claimed heading into Rangers’ eventual 2-0 friendly defeat to Manchester United that the Ibrox side have reignited their interest in Whittaker.
In fact the report suggested that Rangers have had an opening offer which totals over £7m including add-ons thrown out by Plymouth this summer.
Rooney unaware of Rangers interest
With Whittaker said to want the move to Glasgow, Rooney was asked about the transfer interest following Plymouth’s 5-1 pre-season victory over Cheltenham Town.
Whittaker scored in the rout, as did ex-Rangers striker Ryan Hardie, and Wayne Rooney was pressed on the situation surrounding the 23-year-old winger.
But the England hero was left scratching his head over the Rangers links, admitting that the line of questioning was the first time he’d heard about it.
The Manchester United legend also warned Rangers that Plymouth won’t be selling Whittaker unless it’s for ‘crazy’ money.
“It’s the first I know,” said Rooney when quizzed on the Gers links to Whittaker, as per Plymouth Live.
“I have said this before, Morgan is a fantastic player and I’m really enjoying working with him. We value Morgan very highly. Anything other than a crazy bid, we won’t be entertaining.
“Ultimately I want Morgan to stay at the football club because he’s a very good player and he’s the player who can make a difference.”
Rangers fans have been left frustrated with a lack of transfer activity this summer with the final third an area in dire need of reinforcements ahead of the new season.
The links to Morgan Whittaker have also raised questions about reported interest in Abdallah Sima, the Brighton winger currently deemed too expensive by the Ibrox side.
