Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ettifaq have declared their interest in signing right-back James Tavernier from Rangers this summer, according to a report from Graeme Bailey.
Al-Ettifaq appointed former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard as their manager this week, and the Englishman is keen on adding top European experience to the club ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Gerrard has set his sights on former player and Light Blues talisman Tavernier, who has made a name for himself playing in Ibrox as the best attacking right-back in Scottish football. The 31-year-old Englishman may be keen to reunite with his former boss in the Gulf this summer.
Tavernier has played 402 times for Rangers since moving to the club and has carved out a niche for himself as a goalscoring right-back, scoring 101 goals. He has a valuation of £6.4m according to Transfermarkt.
Gerrard keen to strengthen Al-Ettifaq with trusted lieutenant James Tavernier
Gerrard has a huge job on his hands to bring Al-Ettifaq up to speed after they finished 30 points off the league’s continental positions and finished seventh. The Englishman has been promised a huge transfer kitty to try and revitalise the club.
Rangers captain James Tavernier, who already had interest from Saudi Arabia, is very much on Steven Gerrard's radar at Al Ettifaq.https://t.co/WkhHHD64lM
— Graeme Bailey (@GraemeBailey) July 4, 2023
Tavernier was a key component of the Rangers team that won the league title in 2020-21 under Gerrard, playing 29 times in the league and contributing 11 goals and ten assists. The right-back is not slowing down as he recorded 16 goals and nine assists in 38 league appearances last season.
Goalscoring was a huge problem for Al-Ettifaq in 2022-23 as they managed to find the net only 28 times in the league. A move for Tavernier will be smart as he will provide a good goalscoring threat alongside his primary job of defending.
