According to the latest reports from the Scottish Sun, Rangers are eying a January move for Portsmouth’s goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray. The Pompey don’t want to lose him in the winter transfer window as MacGillivray is currently the first-choice starter. The Scotsman was also called up to the national team recently on the back of good performances for the League One outfit.
MacGillivray is being valued at £2.5m, and Championship sides like Huddersfield and Birmingham City are also said to be interested. Portsmouth would expectedly prefer to lose him in the summer instead of January as they are in a battle to move up a division from League One.
Why are Rangers after a goalkeeper?
The report mentions that Wes Foderingham is expected to leave Rangers in the summer. Foderingham has fallen behind the pecking order ever since the arrival of Allan McGregor. Foderingham hasn’t done much wrong in goal as he has been a reliable option and it is McGregor’s brilliance that has kept him out from the first team.
McGregor’s contract is also on the verge of expiring as his deal runs out next summer. But it is mostly expected that the veteran custodian would be given a new deal. Foderingham has already been linked with a move to MLS club so he should be on his way out of Ibrox on a free transfer in the summer.
Is MacGillivray a good option?
The Scotsman has put in some commendable displays in the past year, and that is why he was called up to the national squad just a few months back. He has almost single-handedly dug out his team in few games by putting in stellar displays. His reflexes and shot-stopping skills are excellent. He is quick on his feet, and he will be more than a decent backup option for the Gers.
The problem for Gerrard?
MacGillivray is 26 and given his talent; he would surely want to play first-team football at the moment. He has come close to breaking into Scotland’s national team, and he can only continue to catch the eye if he plays regularly. At Rangers, he will be the second choice to McGregor, and if MacGillivray is ambitious about his game time, then he might not feel like moving to Ibrox as McGregor seems to to be going very strong at the moment.
Rangers though should try their luck in January or in the summer to sign him, but it remains to be seen whether the highly rated Scotsman would move to Glasgow or not.
