A possible move for Blackpool’s Curtis Tilt to Rangers have been speculated upon for weeks but latest reports suggest that Steven Gerrard might not be as interested in the player as we thought. The Gers manager still remains keen on Millwall’s Jake Cooper despite seeing his third bid of £3m get rejected by the Championship outfit.
The Lions have already stated that Cooper is not for sale this summer and Tilt was supposedly being lined up as a possible replacement. Both are left-footed and are versatile with their positioning in defence. Gerrard wants to add more competition in his backline with new additions Nikola Katic and Connor Goldson expected to shoulder major responsibilities.
It would be unfair to write Tilt off as just the cheaper option since he is older and plays in a division lower than Cooper. The 26-year-old plies his trade for Blackpool after signing with the side only last summer from Wrexham.
He made 45 appearances for the Seasiders last term and contributed with 1 goal and 1 assist to help the side keep their place in the League One. Earlier reports claimed that Ipswich Town had offered £600,000 for the defender but Blackpool values him at £1m.
In the present market that might not be an obscene fee for a quality player who seems to have fully proven himself in the English lower divisions. Rangers certainly have the cash to go after him as evident from their eagerness to get Cooper. Born in Walsall, Tilt spent the early part of his career with Halesowen Town, Hednesford Town and AFC Telford United. The Englishman later moved on to Wrexham to gain recognition for his talents and made 36 appearances for the side.
He moved out on loan to Forest Green Rovers in March to make 7 appearances. After starting off in the lower tiers, Tilt has really come a long way to prove his worth to potential suitors. Whether he is ready to take on the challenges of the Scottish Premiership cannot be said for certain but he certainly fits the bill for Gerrard.
New additions, Goldson and Katic might boast of quality at the backline but lack the ability to create plays. In the modern day, it is almost crucial for defenders to have a decent passing range in order to launch attacks from deep-lying positions. Tilt or Cooper would be adding exactly that to Rangers backline other than solidifying it to the core. If the Cooper deal does not materialise, maybe Gerrard should take a closer look at the Blackpool man.
