It was reported today that Rangers captain James Tavernier is set to enter contract extension negotiations with the club.
The Daily Record ran the story with the following:
“Rangers are set to open talks with title-winning captain James Tavernier.”
“The skipper has been a pivotal figure in their championship-winning charge and the champions want to reward him.”
“Director of football Ross Wilson and manager Steven Gerrard both want to extend the free-scoring defender’s existing deal beyond the end of next season.”
“The Ibrox side are confident that the 29-year-old is happy and keen to extend his six year spell.”
The talks were already far down the road and Rangers have confirmed a two-year extension for the captain this afternoon.
💙 #Tavernier2024 💙
📝 #RangersFC are today delighted to announce captain @James_Tavernier has signed a new, two-year extension to his current deal with the club, keeping him at Ibrox until the summer of 2024.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) April 6, 2021
The Daily Record currently do not have a working relationship with Rangers – they aren’t granted access to press conferences or matchday press passes.
Today’s feature contained no informed updates, no quotes, no sources and presented nothing that we didn’t know already.
It could be suggested that Rangers decided to confirm the contract today, to emphasise their control on such sensitive signing talks – the DR report was mere guesswork and did not suggest any pending agreement.
Sporting Director Ross Wilson, made comments alluding to this:
“We began discussions with James a few months ago but as everyone knows, we do our business quietly and agreed this contract would be concluded once the league title was officially won.”
Context
With Tavernier about to enter the last year of his previous deal, of course Rangers were reticent of the fact.
At 29, this latest contract will very likely be the most lucrative of his career with the solid form of the last year or so rewarded in the process.
Whether ‘Tav’ remains at Ibrox until the end of the 23/24 season, we will have to wait and see – alternatively, Rangers have now secured their asset so if serious interest from the Premier League does emerge, the club are protected and it will take serious cash for the player to depart.
The skipper is happy and settled in Glasgow so it would appear that he will remain in place – the emergence and rapid development of Nathan Patterson just adds an intriguing element to this overall situation.
On signing his new contract, a delighted James Tavernier told Rangers official website:
“I will continue to strive to be better as a player, captain and make sure we continue to set the standard higher than before.”
“55 wasn’t the end of the journey, it was only the beginning.”