This month, Philippe Clement desperately needs defensive reinforcements.
Grant Hanley has already been informed that he is free to leave Norwich City, and rumors of a transfer to Rangers are growing.
After Dujon Sterling was the most recent backline member to hobble off in last weekend’s 1-1 with Hibs, Philippe Clement is in desperate need of defensive reinforcements this month. With John Souttar, Leon Baolgun, and Neraysho Kasanwirjo already out, Robin Propper is the only senior center-back the team has available.
James Tavernier and Jack Butland have also remained out of the Light Blues backline, and the 33-year-old Hanley has been linked to a transfer to Ibrox this month by social media rumors. The center-back’s contract expires this summer, and he has only made four appearances this season. Canaries manager Johannes Hoff Thorup has left the door open for him to go.
“From a selfish standpoint, I want to keep him because he’s a captain, a leader, and a very experienced guy,” he told the Pink Un last month. He’s doing well in his training and gets along well with the younger lads.
“However, if he approaches me and says, ‘I want to play first team football on a regular basis,’ I can understand. Naturally, we must then take a seat and assess the issue.
We need to be as truthful and honest with him as we can, so it also [depends] on what type of offers he receives in January. I would prefer him in the group from a self-serving standpoint, but I would certainly understand if you want to check into something that comes up.”
According to The Lanarshire Telegraph, it would be “difficult” for the Scotland captain to fit into Blackburn Rovers’ signing model since it is “unlikely he’d ever agree to a short-term deal.” This indicates that the road to Ibrox is allegedly clean. Watford’s Ryan Porteous is another defender who is quickly attracting attention, and Sheffield United has also been linked to a transfer.
The 25-year-old is reportedly interested in a contract with Hull City. According to the Hull Daily Mail, Porteous is “on his way out” of Vicarage Road, putting the English Championship team on high alert.
The former Hibs player is someone the Light Blues would be considering, according to former Rangers star Craig Moore, who told Go Radio: “He knows the domestic game inside and out.” if he’s not at Watford playing. Look, I definitely want to take those players into consideration.
Down south, if they aren’t receiving game time. It’s not an awful choice. Up here, we’re sure he’d be all right.
“He won’t encounter anything that he doesn’t know about. He has witnessed and felt it. I’m sure they’re naturally left-handed and fairly physically strong. I’m very certain the Rangers will consider him as one of a few choices.
In other news, a transfer for Marseille defender Bamo Meite seems unlikely due to the center-back’s ailment. The £9 million player just made the permanent transfer to the Stade Velodrome last summer, but according to French media, Rangers are still monitoring a loan move for him.
According to La Tribune, the Premiership team is “working on” a temporary transfer. According to reports, Montpellier and RC Lens are also interested in the youngster.
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