Ever since the days of Steven Gerrard have Rangers been heavily reliant on James Tavernier and Connor Goldson.
Indeed, it was the Liverpool legend turned Ibrox hero who anointed James Tavernier as the club’s captain, forever transforming the right-back’s legacy in Glasgow.
Steven Gerrard also brought Connor Goldson to Rangers and over the last six years the two players have formed a foundation of leadership in the home dressing room at Ibrox.
But with the winds of change sweeping through the stadium and fans finally having enough of consistent failure, it really does appear like we’re edging closer to a crossroads with both players.
And as fate would have it, it’s Steven Gerrard who potentially holds the key.
Tavernier & Goldson wanted in Saudi
Links between James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Steven Gerrard and Saudi Arabia are nothing new.
Tavernier in particular – the marauding right-back’s phenomenal goalscoring and assist return building him a cult following in football – has been routinely tipped to move to the Middle East.
After exploding onto the scene with a series of high-profile transfers last summer, Saudi Arabia are not going away either and another big window of spending is expected.
Steven Gerrard – who is the manager of Dammam outfit Al-Ettifaq – has been clear that experience is top of his wish list as he looks to build on a 6th place Saudi Pro League finish.
Both James Tavernier and Connor Goldson have been routinely linked but the latest coming out of Saudi suggests Al-Ettifaq are getting ready to ramp up their interest.
At least that’s according to the Daily Record, who indirectly quote sources in Saudi Arabia and suggest Gerrard wants the bulk of his pre-season shopping complete before a Spanish training camp in July.
Rangers face big leader call
Whether or not these claims come to fruition, we’ll certainly have to wait and see.
But the notion that both James Tavernier and Connor Goldson could leave Rangers has sparked much debate amongst supporters.
Both players have had monumental highs and heartbreaking lows whilst leading the Rangers team, taking a fair amount of praise and criticism with it.
At the end of yet another collapse this season, the leadership duo have been subject to more snarling frustration and many believe their time at Ibrox has now come and gone.
Rangers have also made no bones about their intentions in player trading and given the ages of Tavernier (32) and Goldson (31) this could be the last chance to cash in.
But at the same time Rangers have just released approximately 750 appearances in the shape of five players this summer.
With Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack, John Lundstram and Kemar Roofe amongst them, that’s a heck of a lot of Ibrox experience to ship in one go no matter how necessary.
Throw Tavernier and Goldson into the mix at this juncture and there’s also a sense that we could be about to cut off our nose to spite our face.
Whatever happens with Connor Goldson and James Tavernier will be one of the biggest calls Philippe Clement has to make this summer.
As Rangers sneak up on a transfer crossroads with both players, a decision looks increasingly imminent.
