According to the latest reports from Daily Mail as cited by Daily Star, Rangers will not be able to resist a bid of £8m from Newcastle United for their captain James Tavernier. The Gers are said to be keen to hold on to him. However, the fullback has emerged as a priority target for the Magpies.
Steven Bruce has been appointed as the new manager at the club, but that hasn’t gone down well with the fans. The only way the club can gain the fans’ backing now is by investing heavily in the squad in the next few weeks. Tavernier will bolster United’s right-back options.
What can Tavernier bring to the table?
The fullback is currently the captain of the Rangers side, and he contributed with a whopping 20 assists and 17 goals last season in all competitions. Most of his goals came from the penalty spot, but one cannot overlook the fact that his numbers of assists and goals are outstanding for a fullback.
The 27-year-old is known for his overlapping runs, and ability to go past defenders in one on one situation. Obviously, his right foot which can ping vicious crosses day in and day out is also an impressive weapon. Tavernier is full of energy, and he is a typical attack-minded modern-day fullback. However, there are defensive vulnerabilities to his game, and he can be caught out of position occasionally.
Should Newcastle United come up with an £8m bid?
We think that he is worth that price, but it is likely to come down to what Steve Bruce wants from his fullback. It is highly unlikely that the Toon will set up to play an extravagant and attacking brand of football in the Premier League.
They are likely to sit back and defend in numbers, and that is not going to suit Tavernier’s game. Rangers tend to dominate most of their games in the Premiership, and Tavernier often has a field day in the attacking half of the pitch. However, if he ends up in his own half for most of the game at the Tyneside club, then Newcastle should avoid someone like Tavernier as he isn’t the best defensively.
It will be interesting to see what kind of approach and style Steve Bruce will deploy. The former Hull City manager has never really managed to make his name in football management. He has been at it since 1998, but more often than not he has been sacked or asked to leave the club by mutual consent. We think that Bruce should only sign Tavernier if he has an attacking role in mind for the Rangers captain.
