Rangers ready to accelerate Liverpool transfer pursuit

Cameron Smith

Updated: 9 Apr 2026 14:01 BST
6 min read

Rangers are reportedly interested in signing Liverpool youngster Luca Stephenson this summer amid the uncertain future of club captain James Tavernier.

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Tavernier is currently set to become a free agent in July and it has been widely reported that talks over a new deal have stalled in recent weeks. The Englishman has spent the past 11 years at Ibrox, but his time at the club could be coming to end this summer.

Current ETV

Luca Stephenson

DM (C), M (CR)

Dundee United

Luca Stephenson

DM (C), M (CR)

Dundee United

ETV Range

€0.7M - €1.1M

Tavernier, who joined Rangers from Wigan Athletic back in 2015, has made 48 appearances so far this season, registering 20 goal contributions from right-back, but head coach Danny Rohl appears to be preparing for life after the 34-year-old.

When asked about the possibility of signing a new contract after the club’s recent Scottish Cup defeat to Celtic, Tavernier said: “I obviously want to play, but the manager holds the cards to all of it and what team he selects, and you’ve just got to be fully behind the team of whatever team he selects.

“You’ve just got to keep working hard. I just want to give it my all, like I’ve always done, and that’s the best I possibly can do for myself. The team are working continuously hard, and we would obviously like to see silverware at the end of the season.”

A number of players have been linked with replacing Tavernier at Rangers in recent months, although Stephenson, who is currently on loan at Dundee United, has now emerged as a strong contender for the role.

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Rangers want Luca Stephenson

Stephenson has been on Rangers’ transfer shortlist for a while, but the Scottish giants are ready to accelerate their pursuit of his signature following his performance at Ibrox last weekend, as per Football Insider.

The 22-year-old was deployed as a right winger by Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin and he registered his fifth assist of the season during a 4-2 defeat as Rangers closed the gap on league leaders Hearts.

Stephenson has played as a right-back, a central midfielder and a right winger so far this season, and Rangers are reportedly plotting a summer swoop for the versatile Englishman as they look to find a suitable replacement for Tavernier.

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