Rangers targeting £9m man Gennaro Gattuso called 'very good', he combines 'aggression and quality'
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Rumours of James Tavernier’s Rangers demise, to quote the great Mark Twain, appear to have been ‘greatly exaggerated’.
As recently as late-November, Ibrox icon Kris Boyd was claiming that Tavernier’s time was up in that famous blue shirt. The captain no longer appeared to be a nailed-on starter under Philippe Clement – particularly in the Europa League – with the Rangers boss preferring the more defensively-secure Dujon Sterling on the right-hand side.
James Tavernier’s Rangers renaissance, however, brings to mind that timeless old phrase. Form, as they say, is merely temporary.
And as Tavernier rolled back the years against Kilmarnock and Ross County – two games The Gers won 9-0 on aggregate just before Christmas – never had it been more apparent that, even at the age of 33, the skipper’s class is as permanent as ever.
Yet, not even a footballer as gifted as Tavernier can defy Father Time forever. Rangers’ apparent pursuit of a long-term replacement is not the sign of a club losing faith in their long-serving star, but one thinking logically about the future.
Everton’s Nathan Patterson has been linked with a return to Glasgow recently. Keelan Adams of Falkirk is another under consideration.
But with Rangers casting their net further and wider these days in pursuit of value-for-money additions – Hamza Igamane, lest we forget, cost under £2 million – Bamo Meite is a name to keep an eye on between now and February 1st.
- READ MORE:Rangers Transfer History 2016-Present
Rangers linked Bamo Meite was handed full Marseille debut by Gennaro Gattuso
Rangers were linked with the Marseille youngster over the summer.
New reports have suggested that Philippe Clement’s side are keen to sign Meite on loan for the remainder of the campaign, though the Ligue 1 giants would prefer a sale to be worked into that arrangement either through an obligation clause or an option-to-buy.
Meite cost Marseille a reported £9 million when L’OM signed the 23-year-old from FC Lorient after an initial loan spell last summer. An initial loan spell which saw the Ivory Coast youth international spend some time alongside former Rangers hero Gennaro Gattuso at the iconic Stade Velodrome.
It was Gattuso who handed Meite his first Marseille start, due to the absence of the experienced Samuel Gigot, during a 1-0 Europa League defeat by Brighton and Hove Albion back in December 2023.
“Bamo had a very good match in the defensive phase,” Gattuso said at full-time. “He could have done better offensively but, overall, he had a good match.”
Interestingly, Meite played as a centre-half against a Brighton side who’s head coach at the time, Roberto de Zerbi, now patrols the Marseille touchline. In fact, Meite has made the majority of his L’OM appearances in the centre.
Yet, Rangers appear to have identified versatile operators capable of playing in a variety of roles in recent transfer windows. Meite may not be a like-for-like Tavernier replacement, perhaps, but more a signing in line with Dujon Sterling and Neraysho Kasanwirjo.
Meite is very talented but injury record may be a concern
Le Phoceen, after that Brighton clash, highlighted Meite’s 6ft 1ins frame, his aggressive, front-foot defending and his ability to build play from the back with some well-placed passes into midfield.
“He did not disappoint, showing himself to be aggressive, brilliantly muzzling [Kaoru] Mitoma, making up for Jonathan Clauss’ defensive errors and distinguishing himself with interesting passes,” the French publication wrote. “Intelligent passes and, at times, daring in his own penalty area.
“It was nice to see a defender able to combine aggression and quality passes. Even under English domination, he never showed any signs of weakness, which seems to bode well for the future.”
Something which bodes less well, however, is Meite’s injury record. De Zerbi confirmed recently that the youngster is facing a few weeks out with a ‘fairly serious’ injury. He missed eight games in 2023/24 with an ankle issue, and this could be a red flag for a Rangers side who have endured their fair share of defensive injuries already this term.
