Rangers transfer state of play on Morgan Whittaker and Tyrese Campbell as 2 exits lined up to fund striker swoop
Rangers are tracking Whittaker but an insider has made them favourites to land Campbell
It's looking like a tale of two strikers now for Rangers - as the Ibrox club have been made an insider's 'favourite' to land Tyrese Campbell this summer.
Philippe Clement is looking to strengthen his forward line this summer with Cyriel Dessers not exactly setting the world alight despite his 22 goals last season. If his £4.5m transfer fee can be recouped, it's likely Rangers will move to replace him - and Record Sport understands Morgan Whittaker is back in the frame to that end.
He was linked previously and we understand the Light Blues have had an initial bid turned down by Plymouth Argyle this summer. The rejected offer, with add-ons, would have been in excess of £7 million, if the additional extras had been triggered. The Ibrox side are still very much in the hunt and are expected to go back in with an improved bid - with new boss Wayne Rooney keen to keep Whittaker, but also aware the player wants to make the move to Scotland.
Rangers first tried to get the 23-year-old under Michael Beale, but multiple bids were turned down by Swansea City at that point. He is back on the radar under current boss Phillippe Clement.
Another avenue to funding a new striker could be shifting on captain James Tavernier - with Turkish side Trabzonspor looking to seal a deal. Rangers rejected their first offer and it's thought there is a difference of £850,000 in the two clubs' valuations. But so keen are the Super Lig side to land him that they have reportedly put talks with with 23-year-old Pedro Malheiro, another right-back, on hold until they can strike a deal.
As well as Whittaker it's believed Rangers are keen on free agent striker Tyrese Campbell. The Daily Mail broke the news that Gers had reignited their interest in the 24-year-old, who knocked back both them and rivals Celtic to stay at Stoke in 2020. But it's a different matter now with Clement joining a host of English clubs in the chase for the frontman.
However former EFL veteran Carlton Palmer, speaking to Football League World , reckons the Ibrox side have the edge. He said: “Tyrese Campbell is a wanted man, he has now become a free agent from Stoke City after he was unable to agree a contract with them. He’s 24, so he’s nowhere near the twilight of his career, the big contract comes when you’re 28 or 29, but when you’re a free agent, you want to go to a club where you can effect it.
“I know Glasgow Rangers are tight in terms of money to pay for a striker to come in to the football club, but with a free agent that opens it up a little bit because then you’ve just got to cover his salary. I don’t know, his dad Kevin played at West Brom, and we all know the job Carlos Corberan did there, and maybe that would be a very good move for him at this time, as I think West Brom will be pushing for the play-offs next season.
“It’s interesting to see, Cardiff finished very respectably last season, can they push for a play-off place next season? But of course, Glasgow Rangers are a massive football club, so it will be interesting to see. For me it would be between West Bromwich Albion and Glasgow Rangers, with Rangers being the favourite due to the past history.”