- The Turks have already signed Barisic and Lundstram and are planning to bring in their former team-mate at Ibrox as well
- Tavernier has scored an incredible 125 goals in his nine years since joining Rangers from Wigan
- Ibrox club open to selling Englishman if valuation is met but reportedly rejected Trabzonspor’s initial bid
Trabzonspor are expected to return with an improved offer for James Tavernier after their initial bid to sign the Rangers captain was rejected.
The Turkish club have already signed former Ibrox duo Borna Barisic and John Lundstram on free transfers and are keen to add a third player from the Light Blues team that reached the 2022 Europa League final.
Tavernier, 32, has scored an impressive 125 goals at right-back in the nine years since arriving in Glasgow from Wigan Athletic, but Rangers are open to selling the Englishman if their valuation is met. However, it was reported on Friday that they had rejected Trabzonspor’s initial bid.
Manager Philippe Clement said at the end of the club’s training camp in the Netherlands last weekend that Rangers would listen to offers for almost all of their players.
“If someone comes with the right amount of money, then we’ll see, then we’ll discuss it,” he said. “But you always have to look and then you have to replace someone and you need enough money to replace them to make it better, otherwise there’s no point.
Tavernier has become a target for the Turkish side after nine years at Ibrox
Tavernier’s former Rangers teammate John Lundstram has already joined Trabzonspor
Borna Barisic is another ex-Ibrox star who has signed for the Turkish club
“It’s a balance in that way. I think there’s only one player who is irreplaceable at the moment and I don’t think any team will pay him the money he’s worth, and that’s Jack Butland.”
Tavernier has also been linked with another Turkish team, Besiktas and Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq, both led by his former Rangers managers Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Steven Gerrard.
The sale of Tavernier would be another notable move in Clement’s rebuild this summer, after the departures of Ryan Jack, Kemar Roofe, Jon McLaughlin, Robby McCrorie, Lundstram and Barisic.
The Ibrox club have recruited Jefte, Liam Kelly, Oscar Cortes, Connor Barron, Clinton Nsiala and Hamza Igamane in preparation for the Premier League season opener at Hearts on August 3.