Nathaniel Clyne
According to Football Insider (h/t Daily Record), Alan Hutton has tipped Rangers to sign Liverpool outcast Nathaniel Clyne in the coming transfer window.
A former league winner with Rangers, Hutton is of the opinion that Clyne’s arrival could further strengthen the Gers’ chances of winning a league title next season.
Meanwhile, right-back Clyne has missed almost all of the 2019-20 season owing to a cruciate ligament rupture that he sustained last summer. Once touted as a future star, Clyne’s career took a downward spiral since moving to the Merseyside club from rivals Southampton in the summer of 2015.
The Englishman been reclined to the sidelines mostly due to injury and fitness-related issues that has seen him fall down Reds boss Jurgen Klopp’s pecking order.
Also, the emergence of young full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold as one of the best in the world has put him out of the scene completely. Alexander-Arnold has been so dominating and exemplary with his displays on the flanks that Clyne barely got any game time since the 2017-18 campaign.
Clyne just made an overall 22 league appearances since then, of which 14 have come during his loan spell at Bournemouth last season. He, however, was a regular with the Reds in his first two seasons with them, making 64 appearances altogether.
Clyne had earlier rose to fame with his standout performances at the back for his previous club Southampton that saw him earn a move to Liverpool. However, things never worked out well for the full-back, whose current contract at Anfield ends this summer. In the wake of such a scenario, Hutton suggests that Rangers should make the best of this opportunity and bring him to Ibrox.
Former Reds star Gerrard’s Rangers have been in good form this season as they stay second in the league. However, they are still 13 points behind leaders Celtic and roping in someone of Clyne’s level could make a difference in the coming season.
Moreover, he would also give good competition to the skipper and first-choice right-back James Tavernier. Tavernier has arguably been Rangers’ best player in the past few seasons with his eye-catching displays.
He has three goals and nine assists to his name, making him the side’s highest-assist provider this season. So somebody like Clyne would be a big test for Tavernier as he will have to fight for a place in the starting line-up.
Buying someone like Clyne, who has excelled at the highest level with a top club will definitely bring in some confidence to the Rangers squad next season. Also, with Clyne’s arrival, manager Gerrard will have an array of talents at his disposal and he can use them based on the requirement.
Hence, Rangers should pay heed to Hutton’s words and try and sign Clyne if they wish to push on for the league title.
