Latest reports from the Turkish Media outlet Fotospor indicates that the Fenerbahce manager Ersun Yanal is looking to sign a right back in the January transfer window and he has zeroed in on Rangers’ captain James Tavernier. The manager currently seems unhappy with his right back option Gokhan Gonul, and as a result, they could target a fullback in the winter transfer period.
Tavernier has firmly established himself in the current lineup and is often the first name on the team sheet. We are just midway through the season, but the 27-year-old right back has already played 35 games in all competitions. What has been his most significant feature is his attacking returns as so far the Englishman has managed nine goals and 14 assists. He is also on a penalty kick and set piece duties for his side, and often the Gers build their attack from the right side because of Tavernier’s overlapping runs.
Given his current importance in the lineup, the Bears are unlikely to sell Tavernier especially midway through the season, but Gerrard had earlier insisted that all of his players are for sale for the right price.
He was quoted as saying (Belfast Telegraph),”All my players are for sale. Let’s get it out in the open. Every single one of my players is for sale. They have all got a price. But they are not the old prices. It’s the new prices. So if you want them then come with loads of money and you can have them.”
Therefore we believe the club might look to sell him if the offer is around the £10m mark as that could be enough money for Gerrard to look for an instant replacement in the January window. The Gers also have Jon Flanagan at their disposal who has so far played as a backup in the left-back role, but we think Flanagan would do a better job in his more natural position as a right back.
It remains to be seen how much the Turkish heavyweight would look to spend, but one thing that is clear is that the Gers aren’t going to let him go for cheap. This is not the first time that the former Newcastle United defender has attracted interest in the transfer market and English top flight club like Brighton and Hove Albion have also been linked (daily Record) with a move for him.
Given that the title race is heating up, Gerrard would hope that his current set of players can continue until the end of the season as signing a new player in January and getting him to perform straightaway would be too much to ask for in the current scenario. Therefore in an ideal case, the manager would want to hold on Tavernier until the end of the season at the very least.
