Joe Worrall joined Rangers on a season-long loan in the summer of 2018. A lot was expected out of this English defender as not too long ago, Premier League outfit Burnley had put in a £10m bid for him. Nottingham Forest rejected that, and it showed how much they valued the defender. However, since Aitor Karanka took over at the club, he fell down the pecking order and was given the green light to join Rangers last year.
The 22-year-old defender has definitely not played like a £10m man for the Bears but he has done well on occasions. His loan deal is about to expire in the summer. Latest reports from the Nottingham Post conveys that the English club would recall him back once his loan spell expires. Therefore Rangers are unlikely to have any chances of signing him again in the summer.
If Karanka would have stayed at City Ground, then there is no doubt to us that Rangers would have had a chance to bring the defender on another loan spell as the Spanish manager didn’t rate him much. However, it is believed that Forest’s new manager Martin O’Neill wants to see the English defender at the club next season.
Does Rangers really need him?
Worrall’s performances have been quite bipolar. There are occasions when he looks strong, reliable and almost like a leader at the back. However, there is no doubt that there is always a mistake or two in his game. Rangers will only have two central defenders for the upcoming summer as Gareth McAuley’s contract is also ending.
Fans and even the manager would want to see an upgrade coming in over Worrall. However, if Rangers cannot get their hands on top defenders, then the Englishman wouldn’t be too bad an option to consider for another loan spell. The fact that he would have had one year of experience at Ibrox should improve him further.
Is it a big blow for Gerrard?
Not really as the Bears would like to see a more established and proven centre back coming in the summer. Worrall could have been a decent addition on another loan spell as a backup option.
But if he was only going to be on loan, then there was no point in developing him as he was never going to be Rangers player. Moreover, the player has himself often indicated that he is seeing Rangers as a stepping stone and wants to succeed at Nottingham Forest as a player.
