Rangers reportedly reject Trabzonspor offer for captain James Tavernier

Trabzonspor are expected to return with an improved for James Tavernier after their initial bid to sign the free-scoring Rangers captain was rejected, according to reports.

The Turkish club have already signed former Gers players Borna Barisic and John Lundstram on free transfers, and are intent on adding a third member of the Light Blues side that reached the 2022 Europa League final.

Tavernier, 32, has netted a remarkable 125 goals from right-back in his nine years since arriving in Glasgow from Wigan, but Rangers are open to selling the Englishman if their valuation is met. However, it was reported on Friday that they had turned down Trabzonspor’s first offer.

Manager Philippe Clement said last weekend, at the end of the club’s training camp in the Netherlands, that Rangers would listen to offers for almost all of their players.

“If there is somebody coming with the right amount of money we will see, we will discuss,” he said. “But you always need to see and then you need to replace somebody and you need enough money to replace them to make it better, otherwise it is also of no use.

“It is finding a balance in that way. I think there is only one player that is irreplaceable at the moment that I don’t think a team will pay the money that he is worth, for sure, and that is Jack Butland.”

Tavernier has also been linked with another Turkish side in Besiktas and Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ettifaq, clubs who are managed by his former Gers managers Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Steven Gerrard respectively.

The sale of Tavernier would represent another notable move in Clement’s summer rebuild following the departures of Ryan Jack, Kemar Roofe, Jon McLaughlin, Robby McCrorie, Lundstram and Barisic.

The Ibrox club have recruited Jefte, Liam Kelly, Oscar Cortes, Connor Barron, Clinton Nsiala and Hamza Igamane as they build towards their Premiership opener away to Hearts on August 3.