James Tavernier Rangers exit latest as contract claims made amid quality you can't put a price on
The Rangers captain has been linked to Tottenham and Wolves ahead of his summer exit.
Claims have been made over James Tavernier’s future as he prepares to leave Rangers.
The Ibrox captain will pull the curtain down on his Light Blues career after 11 years at the end of the season, upon his contract expiry, but has no plans to retire fully. Wolves have been linked as one option as they prepare for life in the Championship while Tottenham are rumoured to also have him under consideration should they drop out the Premier League.
Journalist Mark Guidi has claimed Rangers would have had to come to an arrangement with Tavernier, where he to stay, due to his large wage packet. There is still a feeling of surprise though that it’s claimed talks didn’t even reach the stage of an offer as Wolves and Tottenham talk takes flight.
Could James Tavernier have stayed at Rangers?
Guidi told Go Radio: “I think James Tavernier will have options. I think he'll have really good options. I don't think there's a done deal yet, anywhere, but just on his career with Rangers in terms of his contract. I'm surprised that there wasn't a conversation with him. A proper sit down and get a feel. I don't think there was anything put in front of him and I'm really surprised at that.
“I'm not saying he deserves to get the same again. At some point, you need to cut your cloth. He's on a very lucrative contract and rightly so. I think Rangers would have to have cut their cloth with him, more appearance based, that kind of deal. As far as I'm aware, to be sitting down or not to sit down and not actually get to, ‘what do you fancy? Can we get somewhere? Can we get something?’
“Because, okay, he might not be first choice right back next season even if he stayed, because you have got Dujon Sterling, they might look at others. But the experience that he has, sometime you can't put a price on that.”
What have Rangers players said about James Tavernier?
Amid a pursuit of the Premiership title, centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez said last week of the Tottenham and Wolves-linked Rangers skipper, prior to a loss against Motherwell: “We all know what we need to do until the end of the season and it would be the perfect send off for him, but we have to take it one game at a time.
“It was tough when he told us and we were a bit shell-shocked. We all congratulated him and showed him love and we want to bring something back for him. I feel since I came here that he has been in my corner, he has supported me when I needed it. When I signed, I didn’t understand the size of the club, but his calm leadership carried me through.
“I remember when the gaffer came in, we played Hibs away and Tav spoke to me and told me I would get my opportunity. When you leave a club after this long, the best way to go is with a title and bring something to the fans and people remembering your legacy. The game after that against Livingston I played and that moment from Tav lifted me up. I knew I had his trust and you have to be grateful to him for moments like that.”
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