Why Rangers must tie down Joe Worrall to a permanent deal
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has hinted that he wants to sign on-loan defender Joe Worrall on a permanent deal (h/t Nottingham Post).
The 21-year-old centre-back joined the Light Blues on a season-long loan from EFL Championship outfit Nottingham Forest last month. And he seems to have made a strong impression on the Gers boss in a short time, prompting Gerrard to consider signing him on a permanent basis in the January transfer window (h/t Nottingham Post).
Speaking about the players on loan at the club, Gerrard told Daily Record (as quoted by Nottingham Post): “We went for those players initially because we rate them very highly. And Joe had a really tough debut on Thursday night against Villarreal but I felt he came through it very well.
“In an ideal situation, they would all be on four or five-year deals already here at Rangers. If you are asking me if I would want to keep all four of these players for next year, I’d sign them all right now.”
Worrall, 21, is a product of the Nottingham Forest academy and made his first-team debut for the Reds two years ago in October 2016. Prior to that, he spent four months on loan in the League Two with Dagenham & Redbridge FC. Since his making his first-team debut, the defender went on to notch up 56 appearances for the senior team, scoring one goal in the process.
A promising talent, Worrall captained England’s U20 team to taste success in the Toulon Tournament 2017. Since then, the centre-back has made three appearances for the Three Lions’ U21 outfit.
Since moving to Scotland last month, the defender has made just one appearance in a difficult match against Spanish La Liga outfit Villarreal in the UEFA Europa League. Despite looking off the pace initially, Worrall settled into his stride as the game wore on and managed to end strongly.
The 21-year-old is known for his game intelligence and ball-playing abilities which is a quality most managers seek from his centre-backs. The Englishman’s composure on the ball and distribution from the back make him a huge asset. Furthermore, he backs it up with solid defensive nous and leadership abilities, as was witnessed in England’s Toulon Tournament triumph.
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Worrall may have just made a single appearance for the Gers so far but the Nottingham Forest academy graduate has shown enough potential and promise in his fledgeling career. At just 21, he can only grow from here and get better and better. Hence, if there is a possibility of turning the loan deal into a permanent one, Rangers must do so without hesitation.
