Rangers are reportedly interested in signing a Premier League star they see as a ‘long-term successor’ to captain James Tavernier.
The Light Blues are set to embark on yet another major squad rebuild this summer after winning just one domestic trophy last season.
Philippe Clement worked wonders with the team he inherited from Michael Beale last October, but ultimately fell short in the Scottish Premiership title race with Celtic.
Further misery was piled on Rangers when they lost the Scottish Cup Final to their arch-rivals to end the 2023/24 campaign. Now, it’s time to completely reshape the first-team personnel.
That process was kicked off with the signing of Jefte, which was then followed by the exits of John Lundstram, Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic, Kemar Roofe and Jon McLaughlin.
Those departures will free up a considerable chunk of the wage bill needed for Clement and director of football Nils Koppen to bring in reinforcements strong enough to mount a serious title charge next year.
Rangers have already been linked with a whole host of names so far. And now, a West Ham United defender who may be familiar to Gers fans has cropped up again.
Rangers ‘interested’ in West Ham’s Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson was linked with a switch to Glasgow in January, with Leeds United and Sheffield United also said to have been interested in him.
Nothing materialised in the end. But since the beginning of May, reports have resurfaced linking Johnson with Rangers again – in fact, The Athletic went as far as saying talks had been held.
However, Leeds are still said to be in the mix for Johnson, as are Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace [The Daily Record]. And when Premier League sides enter the fray, all hope from a Rangers point of view is usually lost.
Johnson has allegedly turned down two lucrative contract offers from West Ham and is highly expected to depart the club for free at the end of June.
The Athletic’s report was the last we had heard of Johnson being mentioned with Rangers. But on Saturday morning, The 4th Official have added more fuel to the transfer fire regarding a potential Ibrox move for the Hammers man.
The short report states: “I can confirm that Rangers have an active interest in Ben Johnson. This is after talking with several sources including West Ham insider @ExWHUEmployee.
“Johnson has several options but the interest from Rangers is concrete.
“The 24 year old is a free agent and has turned down multiple contract offers from West Ham United.
“The versatile defender is being targeted as a long term successor to James Tavernier.”
Rangers move for Johnson seems unlikely
Ben Johnson is primarily a right-back but can also play on the other side of defence and as a defensive midfielder, as he proved with West Ham last season.
He appears to be in the same mould as Dujon Sterling, so before we even get to the fact Crystal Palace are in the hunt for Johnson’s signature, we don’t need another versatile option in the squad.
The reality is simple. Rangers may well be interested in signing the 2023 Europa Conference League winner this summer, particularly so because he’s about to become a free agent.
But with Leeds and Crystal Palace sniffing around too, Rangers won’t be able to offer as lucrative a deal and with that, you can forget about Johnson plying his trade at Ibrox next season.
Captain Tavernier may need replacing soon if the links with Steven Gerrard and Saudi Arabia are realised. But the replacement is unlikely to be Ben Johnson given the current state of play.
