According to the Daily Mail, Rangers captain James Tavernier has attracted interest from a host of Premier League clubs ahead of the summer transfer window, with Southampton, Brighton and Burnley all believed to be keen on luring the 27-year-old Scottish international to England at the end of the season.
The Daily Mail understands that Rangers are not willing to part ways with their talismanic skipper, though the Ibrox giants might be forced to listen to offers of around £8 million for Tavernier.
Tavernier has not only done a terrific job as the designated club-captain but he has contributed immensely to the team as a player as well, accumulating a staggering 16 goals and 20 assists from 55 appearances for the Gers in all competitions this season.
In all competitions combined, the 27-year-old boasts of an awe-inspiring tally of 42 goals and 59 assists from 195 appearances over the course of his four seasons at Ibrox, figures which are enough to outshine the exploits of any top-class playmaker.
A youth product of Newcastle United, Tavernier didn’t get too many opportunities to prove his worth at Tyneside and spent time on loan at a host of lower division clubs before joining Wigan Athletic in 2014.
However, a move across the border to Glasgow finally allowed him to settle down in his career and he hasn’t looked back since then, establishing himself as one of the most influential right-backs in Scotland and cementing his place in Scotland’s national team.
To put things into perspective, James Tavernier would be an ideal signing for either of the aforementioned clubs. While Brighton can look at him as a replacement for the retiring Bruno, the Scotsman would also be an upgrade on the likes of Phil Bardsley and Matthew Lowton at Turf Moor.
However, Southampton would bag a massive coup and get one over their mid-table Premier League rivals if they manage to beat off competition for the highly-rated 27-year-old in the summer.
The Saints are in dire need of more cover at right-back, with French starlet Yan Valery being the only viable option in the absence of Cedric Soares, who was shipped out on loan to Inter Milan by Ralph Hasenhuttl back in January.
However, Southampton would need to make a decision on the future of Soares when he returns from his loan spell in the summer, with Tuttomercatoweb reporting that Inter are not at all interested in making his stay permanent.
Valery has been a revelation in that right wing-back role under Hasenhuttl this season and given his current form, he would, undoubtedly, be ahead of Soares in the pecking order next season if the Saints opt to keep the Portuguese international on their books.
The Saints, though, would be better off letting him leave in the summer, as he has largely underachieved over the past couple of campaigns.
Southampton have adopted a more attractive brand of football involving a back-three system under Hasenhuttl, which necessitates hitting the opposition on the counter and quick transition from defence to attack.
They need top-quality wing-backs in order to execute the Austrian’s plans to perfection and Valery, though a really talented player with high levels of energy, is not yet the finished article.
James Tavernier is a much more established player in that position and he certainly has all the attributes to take the Saints to the next level. Having someone like Tavernier would reduce Valery’s involvement but competition for places is necessary for the growth and development of every youngster in football.
Tavernier is a wonderful crosser of the ball from the wide areas and his vision for unleashing key passes is comparable to that of any wide playmaker.
Strong on the tackle and reliable at the back, the Scotsman always has a tendency of getting into the box to score goals. To add to that, he is a charismatic leader and a very influential player on and off the pitch.
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The Rangers skipper certainly has the numbers to flatter and there is no reason why Southampton should not go forward with their interest and strike a deal to bring him to St.Mary’s in the summer.