HULL CITY AND RANGERS ON THE VERGE OF TRANSFER AGREEMENT FOR IBROX OUTCAST

 

Hull City are closing in on the signing of Greg Docherty from Rangers, with the deal set to cost the Tigers around £400k. 

Grant McCann is preparing the Tigers for a season back in the third-tier of English football following relegation from the Championship last season, with Hull’s focus on the transfer window.

As per The Herald, Docherty is on the verge of joining Hull in a £400k deal, with personal terms agreed for the transfer between Rangers and Hull to go ahead.

The 23-year-old has failed to really make an impact on the first-team at Ibrox, with only 19 appearances under his belt since making Rangers his permanent home.

The former Hamilton man has been on the move to Shrewsbury and Hibernian in the last two seasons, with 41 appearances coming in League One for the former, which brought seven goals for the midfielder.

Now, he’s on the verge of a permanent move out of Rangers and back into League One, with McCann looking to shape a squad capable of challenging for an instant return to the Championship.

The Verdict

This is a good move for Docherty, who really does need the fresh start away from Rangers after a couple of loans.

For Hull, they’re getting hold of a player that’s going to be full of motivation to excel, with his previous League One form really encouraging.

He played a big role at Shrewsbury and if Hull can get that level out of the midfielder, £400k is going to look a bargain.

CHARLTON ATHLETICRANGERS JOINED BY EUROPEAN GIANT IN RACE TO SIGN CHARLTON ATHLETIC’S LYLE TAYLOR

It’s safe to say that Lyle Taylor has stolen the headlines in recent weeks, with his decision to refuse to play for Charlton Athletic again being discussed by a number of fans across the UK. 

The Daily Mail have now reported that Taylor has received an offer to quadruple his wages by Turkish giants Galatasaray ahead of the summer transfer window.

It is also claimed that Rangers are also keeping tabs on Taylor, although it remains to be seen as to which club holds the advantage in the race to land his signature.

Taylor has been a key member of Lee Bowyer’s squad with Charlton, and has chipped in with 11 goals in 22 appearances for the Addicks this term.

But his refusal to complete this year’s campaign to avoid the risk of injury hasn’t gone down well with some of his Charlton team-mates, who have relegation clauses in their own contracts.

Charlton are currently sat 22nd in the Championship table, and will be hoping they can survive in the second tier without Taylor’s contribution heading into the final nine matches of this year’s campaign.

Speaking in a recent interview with Sky Sports News, Taylor admitted that he understands the supporters’ frustrations over his decision, but is hoping that the fans can remember the good times he had with the club.

“I know I won’t be remembered at Charlton like I did at Wimbledon: that was someone who went out there giving everything and had to be dragged off the pitch after giving my all in every game.

“I might be remembered as a money-grabber or a let-down, but I would like to think some people will look beyond that and remember the good times I shared with the manager and my team-mates and Charlton Athletic.

“Hopefully the Charlton fans can look on it more fondly than with hatred or disgust.”

Galatasaray are one of Turkey’s biggest football clubs in terms of success and stature, and you can see that they’re keen to land his signature if they’re willing to quadruple his wages.

It’s a real shame that his time with Charlton is going to end the way it is, and I do fear for their survival chances without Taylor in their squad.

It could be a season-defining decision for the Addicks, which could ultimately cost them a place in the Championship.

NINE SOON-TO-BE FREE AGENTS WHO RANGERS COULD SIGN AHEAD OF NEXT SEASON

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is bound to be planning for the summer as he looks to bridge the gap to Celtic for once and for all.

They’re getting closer, but poor form since the turn of the year looks to have cost them this season and he’ll need to address that.

Could he look to the free agent market to add players? There are plenty set to be available in the summer if he wanted – though it remains to be seen if any of them would actually be of interest to the club…




Adam Lallana
Lallana would be on big wages but would he be tempted to play under Steven Gerrard? He looks likely to leave Liverpool in the coming months.



Nathaniel Clyne
Similarly, Nathaniel Clyne also appears to be closing in on an exit from Liverpool at the moment.





John Ruddy
Allan McGregor continues to excel but a plan for the future is needed and John Ruddy is free in the summer. If Wes Foderingham wants to leave he could be worth a look.






Jack Colback
Colback’s days at Newcastle look numbered and a move elsewhere in the summer could be very likely.



Aaron Lennon
The old-school winger is another set to be out of contract this summer with him currently at Burnley.



Mike van der Hoorn
Swansea might not be able to keep van der Hoorn past the summer and he’s a player with PL experience.




Kyle Edwards
Kyle Edwards has got plenty of talent but it’s unclear if West Brom want to keep him. Perhaps Gerrard would feel he can help develop him if the Albion do not take up the option to extend his deal.




Kyle Naughton
Naughton has been a top performer for Swansea this season but they might not be able to afford to keep him past the summer.




Lyle Taylor
Lyle Taylor has done well this season for Charlton but his future remains unclear with the Addicks yet to have achieved safety.

RANGERS URGED TO SIGN SCOTTISH FOOTBALLER CURRENTLY PLAYING IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP

Kris Boyd has urged Rangers manager Steven Gerrard to sign Derby County’s Graeme Shinnie.



Boyd represented the likes of Rangers, Kilmarnock, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest in his playing career, and is now writing his own column in The Scottish Sun.

Last night he wrote how Gerrard should move for Shinnie after Andrew Halliday’s release this week, saying:






“For all I doubted he was good enough for the international set-up — which I stand by — he knows Scottish football inside out and is someone who gives everything whenever he steps out on to the pitch.

“With Halliday gone he’s versatile enough to play in different roles. It’s the kind Rangers will need in the next 12 months if they’re to finally stop Celtic winning title after title.”

Can you get 15 out of 15 on this Derby County quiz? Have a go now!

1 of 15

HAVE DERBY COUNTY BEEN SPONSORED BY ADIDAS IN THE LAST TEN YEARS?
YesNo

Shinnie, 28, represented both Inverness CT and Aberdeen before joining Derby last summer. He’s struggled with injury this season but has featured 14 times in the Championship so far, and has impressed at his new club.








Whilst all football clubs face a contested transfer window, with prices plummeting and funding cut short, Shinnie could well be one of many to depart from Derby County this summer.

Gerrard has had a competent first season in management but came under scrutiny towards the end of the season, with Celtic having since been crowned champions of Scotland for the ninth season running.

The verdict

Shinnie has proved a fine signing by Derby and if he were fit for the entirety of the season, he would’ve likely played a much more important role in the side.

But he’s still proved his worth at Pride Park and Ibrox could well be a good fit for the Scot, who could end up leaving Derby for pennies if the current climate has its say.

RANGERS FACE COMPETITION TO SIGN EFL PLAYER

Rangers have been joined by both Marseille and Leganes in the race to sign West Brom midfielder Rayhaan Tulloch according to Football Insider.



Tulloch is out-of-contract at the end of this year’s campaign, and it remains to be seen as to whether he’ll be offered a new deal by the Baggies.

He has made three senior appearances for Slaven Bilic’s side this season, all of which have come in their FA Cup campaign to date this term.






But Tulloch has netted nine goals in 14 appearances for West Brom’s Under-23s team this season, and it seems as though his impressive showings haven’t gone unnoticed.

Rangers had previously been interested in signing Tulloch during the January transfer window, although a move failed to materialise for one reason or another.

Football Insider also claim that Hibernian are interested in reaching an agreement with the West Brom youngster, although it remains to be seen as to which club is leading the race to land his signature.

But it is also reported that Slaven Bilic’s side are confident of tying down Tulloch to a new contract at The Hawthorns, although potential talks are likely to have been put on hold to recent off-the-field events.
Have these West Brom players been capped at senior international level? Test your knowledge in our quiz!

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HAS SEMI AJAYI BEEN CAPPED AT SENIOR INTERNATIONAL LEVEL?
YesNo

The Verdict:

It’s going to be a fiercely-contested battle to land his signature.

Rangers have already been monitoring Tulloch for a number of months it seems, and it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see them step up their interest after hearing that others clubs are interested in signing the Baggies youngster.



West Brom obviously hold the advantage over any potential talks, and they’ll be hoping they can reach a long-term agreement with the promising youngster at the earliest of opportunities.

‘I CAN SEE IT HAPPENING’ – PUNDIT BULLISHLY BACKS LEEDS UNITED, RANGERS TRANSFER AGREEMENT

Barry Douglas has been given more backing to ditch Leeds United for Rangers this summer, with Kevin Phillips insisting that breaking into Marcelo Bielsa’s side will only get tougher if the Whites win promotion.



Leeds has been Douglas’ home since the summer of 2018, but injuries and a dip in form have hampered him somewhat.

This season, he’s managed only 13 appearances across all competitions for the table-topping Whites, despite starting the season as Bielsa’s first choice at left-back.





Quiz: Have these 15 current Leeds United players been capped at international level? – Yes or no?




KIKO CASILLA.
YesNo

Recently, Douglas revealed he supported Gers growing up, which has led to a see of pundits pushing for him to make the move to Ibrox when the transfer window comes around.

The latest to do so is Kevin Phillips, who told Football Insider: “Marcelo Bielsa has been consistent with his team selection and it will only get tougher if they go up.

‘DEFINITELY RANGERS’ – MANY SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY SUPPORTERS DIVE INTO FAN DEBATE

The top two divisions in German football offered us some insight into how football might look in this country in the near future over the weekend, as the Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga resumed.



Indeed, it seems as though the plan is for at least the Premier League and the Championship to play out a full calendar but both divisions are set to be played behind-closed-doors.

Certainly, it was a novel experience watching the cream of the German domestic game playing without the backdrop of noisy fans, but it is something that is here to stay for a while.





Are these 16 Sheffield Wednesday facts true or false?





SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY CURRENTLY SIT IN 13TH PLACE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP
TrueFalse

Atmospheres at grounds are going to be eery, then, and the sooner we can pack terraces with home and away support in a safe way the better.

In the meantime, though, Owls HQ has been discussing the best away support to have ever visited Hillsborough over the years and it looks as though Rangers stood out more than most.

‘MAN UTD,’ ‘RANGERS,’ ‘BIRMINGHAM’ – MANY DERBY FANS PILE INTO VARIED SUPPORTER DEBATE

Derby County fans have certainly had a roller-coaster experience with their season this year and it could yet end on a high in the Sky Bet Championship.






Off-field matters certainly haven’t made Phillip Cocu’s job any easier at Pride Park but, even so, he has gradually got everyone – or nearly everyone – pulling in the same direction and he’ll be pleased with what he has seen, particularly from his youngsters.

Certainly, there remains a chance that they could make the play-offs but one thing is for certain and that is that no fans will be watching on at Pride Park for a while.





Can you identify these 15 Derby County players by looking at these pixelated images?





WHO IS THE PLAYER?
Matt ClarkeLouie SibleyGeorge EvansMartyn Waghorn

Behind-closed-doors games are here for the immediate future and, perhaps with that in mind, Rams fans on Twitter have been discussing who the best away fans at Pride Park have been over the years.

Let’s take a look at what has been said:

LEEDS REPORTEDLY BEAT RANGERS, LIVERPOOL IN TRANSFER TUSSLE

According to the Belfast Telegraph, Leeds United have won the race to sign Linfield youngster Charlie Allen.



United are currently looking to earn promotion from the Sky Bet Championship back into the Premier League and will be hoping that this campaign is going to get back up and running in order for them to do exactly that.

Certainly, there is a consensus that they would deserve to return to the Premier League for next season and, in the meantime, it looks as though they have managed to sign Allen.






The report reveals the likes of Rangers, Liverpool and Manchester United have all taken a look at the man based across the Irish Sea but it is the Whites that have won out.

With several exciting young players at the club already, then, the future is certainly looking bright for the Whites in one way or another.

The Verdict

Allen obviously won’t be playing first-team football any time soon but it looks as though he has done enough during his time at Linfield to get some of the biggest names in the UK looking at him.

Leeds appear to have won the battle, too, and the player will surely be looking forward to potentially learning, eventually, under Marcelo Bielsa.

YOU MAY BE SURPRISED WHERE THESE 5 EX-RANGERS PLAYERS ARE PLAYING NOW

Rangers will be looking to add in the summer as Steven Gerrard aims to finally topple Celtic and get the Gers lifting domestic honours once more.

The Light Blues have made good strides under the former Liverpool midfielder but it’s clear they’re still a little short of their Glasgow rivals.

It remains to be seen who he looks to sign and bring to Ibrox, then, but, in the meantime, we’ve been looking at some former players who have ended up in a variety of locations.

Here are 5 men that have done some interesting travelling…




Fraser Aird


Fraser Aird was at Rangers for five years as the Gers looked to make their way back up the Scottish leagues.

He left in 2017 for Falkirk before moving to the likes of Dunfermline and Dundee United but now he has moved across the Atlantic Ocean to play for Canadian top tier side Valour FC.

He joined them in January of this year.




Sebastien Faure


Sebastien Faure joined Rangers in 2012 and, like Aird, was part of the side looking to clamber up the leagues.

Indeed, it was the only time in his career that he has played for a side outside of France and so it’s perhaps no shock to find him back in his native land right now.

The defender plays for Monts d’Or Azergues Foot in the Stade Ludovic Giuly – named after the former France international.




Robbie Crawford


Crawford was at Rangers for four years but during that time he spent spells on loan at Greenock Morton and Alloa Athletic.

After a spell in the Finnish game, he moved to USL Championship side Charleston Battery, with them in the tier below MLS.



Vladimir Weiss


Vladimir Weiss has played for some very decent clubs around Europe.

Rangers, Olympiacos and Espanyol are all on his CV but, more recently, he’s played in the Middle East for the likes of Lekhwiya and Al-Gharafa.

In January, meanwhile, he moved back nearer home as he signed for Slovan Bratislava.




Salim Kerkar


Salim Kerkar was at Rangers for a brief period, with him leaving the club in 2012.

He played for Charlton – rather briefly – and then moved abroad, playing for Beroe and Vereya – two sides that play in the same Bulgarian city.

Since, he has moved to Burgan SC who play in Kuwait.

Rangers Open Transfer Talks for Former Bayern Munich Midfielder and Celtic Transfer Target Niklas Dorsch

Niklas Dorsch, former Bayern Munich midfielder and presently contracted with FC Heidenheim, is said to be the latest transfer target that Rangers have opened talks for according to reports in Sky Germany.

Niklas Dorsch, 22, who has three caps for Germany Under-21s, joined Bayern Munich in 2012 aged 14, and managed just one senior appearance, scoring in a 4-1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt. But, he moved on in search of regular opportunities in the summer of 2018 and has become a huge success at Heidenheim where he has played a crucial part in their league campaign by appearing in 23 of their 25 league fixtures so far this season.

The 22-year-old’s contract with FC Heidenheim runs until 2021 and has a release clause of just over £3m in his present contract according to a previous report by the Scottish Sun which also stated that rivals Celtic were also interested in his services during the January transfer window.

The German Under-21 international is presently valued at around €4.50mil, which makes his release clause a bargain fee for prospective clubs like Rangers, who are said to have opened talks with his parent club according to TZ via sport.sky.de.

The report claims that Steven Gerrard has a strong interest in Dorsch who is valued highly in Scotland with Hamburger SV also keeping a close eye on developments of the young midfielder who already has one goal and three assists to his name despite featuring at the base of the midfield for Heidenheim.

Dorsch is a very talented and promising young defensive midfielder who is tipped to become a national team star in the future, despite the stiff competition for places in the national team. So far, he has averaged 2.9 tackles, 1 interception and 0.3 blocks per game this season, whilst maintaining a staggering 88.9% pass success rate according to WhoScored.com.

As mentioned earlier, he was previously linked with a move to Celtic as well but that came unhinged when he refused to move away in the middle of the season amidst working on helping his team secure promotion to Bundesliga. However, he had reiterated his intentions of playing in a top league saying:


“At the moment, I just want to be successful with Heidenheim. We do outstanding work there, have a great environment and are strong in the league. We are realistic, but we have a good chance of promotion.

I have high expectations. My aim is to play in a top-class league

And I have time to decide. This won’t be an issue for me until the end of the season.”

While Rangers do have sufficient midfield options at the moment, Niklas Dorsch could simply add another dimension to their game that the likes of Joe Aribo and Glen Kamara have not been able to do so far. If their domestic form in 2020 is anything to go by, Rangers have a lot of work to do with their team and adding a player with high tenacity, combativeness, and freshness to the squad will certainly go a long way at rejuvenating their present side.

ALSO READ – Four Astute Transfer Buys That Would Effectively Enable Steven Gerrard to Stop Celtic’s 10 in a row Despite Cash Crunch

QUIZ: CAN YOU REMEMBER WHICH RANGERS MANAGER SIGNED EACH OF THESE 15 PLAYERS?

Are you a Rangers fan? Are you bored in lockdown? We have a solution for you!



Here at Football League World, we understand how hard things are right now, and we want to help you distract from that for a bit, thanks to a good old football quiz. It may not be an actual game, but it’s better than nothing!

Today’s Rangers quiz is a test to see if you can remember which manager signed these 15 players for The Gers. Can you get full marks? Have a go, and let us know how you got on via social media!

3 REASONS WHY RANGERS ARE RIGHT TO SANCTION EFL DEAL

According to a recent report from the Blackpool Gazette, Rangers are willing to let Blackpool take goalkeeper Jak Alnwick on a permanent deal – with the goalkeeper currently with the Tangerines on a loan basis.



The Gers look set to finish behind Celtic this season – though it remains to be seen exactly how the Scottish campaign is actually going to be concluded with the men from Ibrox far from happy with current proceedings.

After the dust settles, though, Steven Gerrard will be tasked with adding to his squad in the summer to try and make the final leap and win a trophy – whilst exits will also be expected.







Alnwick, then, looks set to be one and here we’re looking at three reasons why that is the right course of action:






Rangers have several goalkeepers at the club at the moment and it is clear that Alnwick is not going to be pushing his way to the front of the queue any time soon.








Goalkeeper is the hardest position to force your way into, of course, and it looks like it would make sense for Alnwick to stay with the Tangerines.

Rangers need a better successor to Allan McGregor






How long Allan McGregor stays playing remains to be seen but, sooner rather than later, the Gers will need a top successor to take his place.



Wes Foderingham could well want to leave given he has played second fiddle and Alnwick probably isn’t good enough, so making room for the next top Rangers ‘keeper would be an ideal route to take this summer.






Rangers have some very good players coming through in their youth system at the moment, and perhaps moving Alnwick on gives the chance to a young goalkeeper to try and prove himself in and around the first-team.

Gerrard knows how important it is to give kids a chance – both from his playing days at Liverpool and as a youth coach there – and Alnwick’s exit opens that opportunity up.