Rangers are prepared to hand captain James Tavernier a contract extension this summer, according to a report from Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, published on 14 March 2026. The news arrives against a complicated backdrop at Ibrox, with the 34-year-old Bradford-born right-back attracting fresh criticism after missing his penalty in the Scottish Cup final shootout defeat to Celtic last weekend; a moment that intensified already growing frustration among sections of the Rangers support.
Despite the public backlash, O’Rourke reports that the incident has not changed the direction of talks about his future. Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, the journalist confirmed that Rangers would like to keep their long-serving skipper, with formal contract talks expected to be scheduled in the coming weeks.
As of 9 March, Tavernier himself is keen to sign a new deal and hopes to finish his career at Ibrox, though his reduced playing time under Danny Rohl in recent weeks complicates the picture slightly. The length of any potential offer may prove to be a sticking point, given his age, though both parties are working towards an agreement. Tavernier’s current deal expires on 31 May 2026, and Rangers need to sort it before the summer window opens.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, Pete O’Rourke explained: “Yeah, I don’t think obviously that cup exit will have any sort of effect on his long-term future at Rangers. Tavernier is still a key player there with how much he contributes with goals and assists as well. He’s played so many games this season, he’s club captain as well, so he’s got a big influence on and off the pitch.”
“I think Rangers ideally would like to keep him. It’ll all depend on how long they’re willing to offer him in any new contract. But as I said, I think the preference for both would be for Tavernier to sign a new contract. Rangers would like to keep him, and if there are the right offers, I’m sure Tavernier will be happy to extend his stay at Ibrox as well.”
Should Rangers Actually Extend Tavernier Beyond 35, Or Is Sentiment Clouding Judgement?
That, though, is where the real debate lies. Tavernier has made 45 appearances this season and leads Rangers’ scoring charts with 12 goals in all competitions, while creating 56 chances in the Scottish Premiership; the highest figure of any player in the league. Those numbers are striking for a full-back at this stage of his career. The attacking output, the set-piece threat, the penalty-taking responsibility. He shoulders an enormous creative burden that no other Rangers player comes close to matching. That says plenty about him, but it also says something uncomfortable about the squad’s depth.
The honest concern, however, is precisely that dependency. Nicolas Raskin, Rangers’ next most prolific chance creator, sits 10 big chances behind Tavernier for the season. Rangers, chasing Premiership titles and European group stages, cannot keep leaning this hard on a 34-year-old full-back for attacking inspiration. Defensively, Tavernier has always been a liability against quick, direct wingers; his positional discipline and recovery pace have got worse year on year, and that weakness grows more exploitable at the top end of domestic football with each passing season.
Realistically, a one-year extension on adjusted terms feels like the likeliest outcome, and, frankly, it is the correct call. Rohl needs a stable dressing-room leader during what promises to be a significant summer rebuild, and losing Tavernier to a free transfer without a ready-made replacement would create unnecessary disruption. Beyond 2027, though, Rangers must invest in a proper successor at right-back rather than mask a deeper issue that has quietly built up during his long stay at the club.
