The Daily Record is refusing to give up on their dream of James Tavernier joining Al Ettifag in a megabucks deal.
Pushing their luck a bit further Connor Goldson has been tagged onto the story which has been running for three months despite absolutely no sign of interest from Steven Gerrard.
The former Aston Villa boss is into his third transfer window in the Saudi Pro League with zero sign of interest in the Ibrox serial losers that he used to work with.
Now way past their prime the Record is pinning their hopes for the Clement Revolution! on selling two thirty plus journeymen that have consistently finished second in a two horse race.
After eight seasons in the top flight of Scottish football Tavernier has watched Celtic win five trebles as part of a 19 trophy haul while he has one winners medal from each of the three domestic competitions. It took Alistair Johnstone five months to reach that landmark.
Even by his own low standards Captain Disappointed had a nightmare end to the season, turning 33 in October it is doubtful if Wigan would take him back but after three months on the job the Record are still banging the drum.
In trademark style Mark Pirie of the Record goes with:
Steven Gerrard has reportedly demanded that Al-Ettifaq “quickly” start to add new recruits with Rangers duo James Tavernier and Connor Goldson on his shopping list this summer
The Rangers skipper and experienced defender Goldson are wanted by the former Ibrox boss this window as the Liverpool legend looks to spend big for the second post-season in a row. The Saudi Pro League were not shy in pulling out the cheque book during Gerrard’s first summer in the Middle East as the ex-Aston Villa boss brought Gini Wijnaldum, Demarai Gray, Jack Hendry and Moussa Dembele to the club – as well as Jordan Henderson before he quickly returned to Europe with a switch to Ajax.
But Saudi outlet Al-Riyadiya claim that Gerrard has already hoped for some movement in the market this summer with the only new arrival being Madallah Al-Olayan on a free transfer from Al-Ittihad.
it is noted that he hoped to have several key players in the door before the pre-season training camp in Spain which is now underway.
One player mentioned with a move is Fashion Sakala – who was brought to Govan by Gerrard – after he netted 18 goals and six assists last term for Al Fayha. It is also noted the defensive addictions are a “special request” from the manager as he “looks to Europe” for new faces – which could allude to interest Tavernier and Goldson.
Goldson will be 32 in December and has two seasons less experience of losing than captain Tav. Being vice captain to a serial loser like Tav really isn’t anything to boast about or stick on your CV.
In 2022 the former Shrewsbury starlet ran his contract down, becoming a free agent on the back of reaching the final of the Europa League.
To his surprise there wasn’t a sniff of interest, no EPL or Championship clubs were interested in a 30-year-old English free agent.
Sheepishly he returned to Ibrox, signed a lucrative four year deal on terms similar to Kemar Roofe and John Lundstram with the media messengers doing everything to now get him off the wage bill.
Recently Birmingham were linked with an interest in Goldson, League One might be a level that he is more comfortable with.
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