The future of James Tavernier has been a central discussion amongst Rangers fans this transfer window.

The long-serving Ibrox skipper – who is now 32 – is about to enter his 10th season at Rangers with Tavernier initially eyeing a testimonial before the summer.

But after another season of domestic disappointment, the Rangers skipper finds himself at the centre of intensifying scrutiny amongst fans.

The Ibrox armband weighs heavy and after a series of high profile mistakes v Celtic, and another late season collapse, many believe the writing is on the wall.

But as renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano weighs in, we’re left wondering if the only ‘official’ James Tavernier suitors this summer are prepared to cough up.

• READ MORE: Clement reveals plan to win fans back on side with Tavernier and Goldson

Rangers receive ‘formal Tavernier proposal’

There has been no on-pitch figure more monumental for Rangers since the club’s financial demise in 2012 than James Tavernier.

The right-back’s remarkable return of 125 goals and 129 assists in 460 games has made the Ibrox skipper British football’s greatest ever defensive goalscorer.

Also captaining the club since 2018 – three years after initially joining Rangers from Wigan for £250k whilst the club was in the Scottish Championship – it’s been one heck of a journey.

But after winning all three major domestic trophies, going unbeaten during 55, reaching the Europa League Final and leading the club back to the Champions League – not to mention lifting the Petrofac Cap and scoring one of the most underrated Rangers goals in history in the final – Tav’s time in Glasgow could be about to come to an end.

And we’re not exactly sure what to make of it.

Whilst it’s been Saudi Arabian clubs most closely linked to James Tavernier this summer, Turkish side Trabzonspor have reportedly made a ‘formal proposal’ to Rangers.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed the move on X with the Turks of course already adding Borna Barisic and John Lundstram to their ranks at the end of their contracts this summer.

Trabzonspor have tight purse strings

Rangers manager Philippe Clement made headlines over the weekend when he claimed the Gers would have to sell before they buy this transfer window.

But there would’ve been few Rangers fans banking on captain Tavernier being the first out the door.

Yet to feature for Rangers in pre-season, Clement claimed after the clash with Ajax that it was injury and not transfer speculation keeping Tavernier out of the side.

But before anybody gets too carried away, there’s still the small detail of Rangers, James Tavernier and Trabzonspor all agreeing to a deal.

Given Tavernier walloped in 24 goals last season – his highest scoring campaign to date – we don’t suspect the Ibrox side will be looking to sell the skipper on the cheap.

But at 32-years-old, with little sell-on value, we don’t expect it to be an earth-shattering deal either.

For Rangers fans hoping for a potential payday to kickstart our window, it’s interesting to note that Trabzonspor aren’t exactly ones to break the bank.

Whilst others in Turkish football have splashed the cash over the years, Trazbsonpor’s record transfer is the purchase of Majeed Waris from Spartak Moscow in 2014.

According to reports from the likes of NTV Sport, the €6.9m (£5.8m) the Turks spent on the Ghanaian attacker ten years ago has never been topped.

Whilst we don’t expect Tavernier to break it, we expect Rangers to get value for how much the marauding right-back is actually worth to the club.

If Motherwell can do it, then so can we.