Is captain Tavernier nearing the end at Rangers?

Could James Tavernier's nine-year stint at Rangers be coming to an end? It is a question that remains live even after the Scottish transfer window has closed.

Now 32, the club captain and right-back is at somewhat of a crossroads amid speculation linking him with Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, where the transfer window remains open for now.

On the last day of March, Tavernier scored against Hibernian to become British football's highest scoring defender with 131 goals.

The Ibrox side were also going for the Scottish Premiership title and maintained an interest in the Scottish Cup, having won the League Cup earlier in the season.

The Englishman would add two more goals to his tally but neither were in victories as Rangers' title and cup challenge ended fruitless, with Celtic again winning both.

As season 2024-25 gets into full swing, Tavernier is one of the last men standing from Steven Gerrard's title-winning squad of 2020-21.

Leon Balogun and Ianis Hagi are also still at the club but the latter has been exiled, while Balogun is playing more of a supporting role.

And, as captain, criticism has come more in Tavernier's direction than elsewhere as Rangers have stuttered early in the season.

A Champions League qualifying exit dented the club's revenue hopes and a 3-0 defeat at Celtic Park in their last outing left them five points behind both the reigning champions and Aberdeen after four games.

The frustration of one supporter boiled over into verbal confrontation outside Ibrox in the wake of that derby loss and soon reports surfaced about Tavernier being on the radar of Turkish clubs.

Beskitas is one obvious destination, with former Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst in charge of the Istanbul club.

Some of the best football of Tavernier's career came under the Dutch manager as Rangers reached the 2022 Europa League final, with the full-back's goals particularly important.

And then there's Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq, with Saudi Arabia's window also still open. Tavernier has been mentioned in connection with the side in Dammam.

Another dimension to his possible sale is Clement's stance that Rangers should not be losing so many players at the end of their contracts.

Kent and Morelos left in those circumstances and Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack and John Lundstram did likewise at the end of last season.

Tavernier is contracted until 2026, when he will be 34. If he is not to agree new terms, it would make sense for Rangers to sell him either now or over the next three windows.

But can Rangers afford to lose him? And who takes over as captain?

Positionally, Dujon Sterling is an obvious replacement at right-back. Experience-wise, goalkeeper Jack Butland is candidate for the captaincy.

But it is in the goals scored column that Rangers would most miss Tavernier.

As principle penalty taker and a free-kick specialist, he has regularly been in double figures of goals during his nine years at the club.

Other players can take penalties - current top scorer Cyriel Dessers scored one last season - but Rangers do not have an obvious free-kick taker.

His 133 goals are impressive for any defender. Of those, 110 have been while Rangers have been in the Premiership and he has averaged almost 20 a season in the past four campaigns.

Tavernier is also proficient when it comes to assists - contributing two in the league already this term and eight last year.

However, Sportsound pundit Rory Loy believes the relationship is nearing its end.

"I just don't think it's a healthy situation," he former Ibrox youth said of the confrontation with a fan.

"It just feels like it's come to a natural conclusion. If Rangers were to hold on to him, they're risking that toxic energy persisting.

"I don't think he's been particularly consistent this season and that's a worry. I don't think his body language looks the same as it has done in previous years. He just strikes you as a different character.

"He's not been contributing goals this season so far. He doesn't look happy. Sometimes, you just need to accept that maybe it is time.

"In this day and age, he's continuing to be linked away. For me, that's coming from his camp, his agent, whoever it may be trying to drum up interest.

"Everything strikes to me that he would like to move on."