It was the archetypal ‘icing on the cake’, with Glasgow Rangers skipper James Tavernier curling home in stunning fashion in stoppage time to add further gloss to the scoreline at Ibrox on Saturday.
The ease with which the long-serving stalwart swept his free-kick into the roof of the net shouldn’t be overlooked, with the 34-year-old still such a menace from dead-ball situations.
That late moment of magic ensured that the right-back still remains the leading scorer for the Glasgow side this season with 14 goals in all competitions, having also led the way with regard to total goal involvements (20).
|
Tavernier Rangers record by season |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Games |
Goals (Assists) |
|
2025/26 |
46 |
14 (6) |
|
2024/25 |
53 |
5 (13) |
|
2023/24 |
58 |
24 (12) |
|
2022/23 |
55 |
18 (10) |
|
2021/22 |
58 |
18 (17) |
|
2020/21 |
46 |
19 (16) |
|
2019/20 |
46 |
3 (15) |
|
2018/19 |
57 |
17 (20) |
|
2017/18 |
46 |
9 (9) |
|
2016/17 |
44 |
2 (7) |
|
2015/16 |
50 |
15 (23) |
A certain starter or not, amid the presence of Dujon Sterling, Tavernier continues to make an impact when he is called upon. The question is, however, for how much longer will he be a fixture of Danny Rohl’s side?
The latest on Tavernier’s contract situation at Rangers
There may be a sense that the Gers are merely waiting for the season to conclude before making any decision on Tavernier’s future, although it doesn’t exactly bode well for the skipper that teammate, John Souttar, has already secured an extension in recent weeks.
Like Tavernier, the Scotsman’s contract was set to expire this summer, albeit with the Ibrox hierarchy offering him a new deal until 2027, with the option of a further year.
As noted by Football Insider, the big concern is said to be Tavernier’s age, hence why talks are not believed to have yet started over any fresh terms.
Indeed, as the report outlined late last week, the right-back takes home a salary of around £30k-per-week, equating to around £1.5m-a-year, ensuring there might well be a desire to shift him from the wage bill heading into next season.
In key recent meetings with the likes of Hearts and Celtic too, for instance, Rohl favoured the aforementioned Sterling at right-back, with there still those lingering concerns over Tavernier’s defensive application.
The captain, to his credit, has remained loyal to the club despite repeated talk regarding a move away in recent years, although could this summer mark the perfect time for a parting of ways?
If that is to be the case, a key decision for Rohl to make will be the future of the armband, with a few new candidates having come to the table in recent months.
£3m Rangers star could be Rohl’s next captain after Tavernier
Excluding Tavernier, Souttar and 33-year-old ‘keeper, Jack Butland, there is a relatively youthful and inexperienced feel to this current Rangers side, with eight of the eleven who started in the 4-1 win over Aberdeen having only been signed this season.
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Outside of Butland and Souttar, the latter of whom is no longer a regular starter himself, 25-year-old Nicolas Raskin could be a contender to take on the armband, albeit with the Belgian’s own future up for debate heading into the summer.
With that in mind, it would not be hyperbolic to suggest that January arrival, Tuur Rommens, could be in the mix for the potential vacancy, with Raskin’s compatriot having made a sparkling start to life at Ibrox.
In an era that has seen arrivals in Glasgow take time to get up to speed, the 22-year-old has been one of the few to instantly hit the ground running, having settled in so smoothly following his arrival from Westerlo.
Signed for a relative bargain fee of just £3m, the rampaging left-back can already be considered a coup on recent evidence, having only recently netted the only goal in the vital 1-0 win away at St Mirren.
Rommens was also involved in the opening goal against the Dons at the weekend, with his fine work down the left leading to Tochi Chukwuani’s strike, now up to four ‘big chances’ created and an average of 2.7 key passes per game from his six Premiership appearances so far.
For comparison, Tavernier’s 29 outings this season have seen him average 2.2 key passes, albeit while racking up 17 ‘big chances’ in total, with Rommens well on course to prove Rangers’ new attacking weapon from the full-back ranks.
Something of a successor to the Englishman then in a creative sense, the calm manner in which Rommens has started at Ibrox should also put him in the running to be Tavernier’s replacement as captain.
That is a view shared by podcaster David Edgar, who suggested that while patience is needed, the January arrival should “certainly be in contention“.
There is also the standout figure of Emmanuel Fernandez alongside him as another wildcard option, yet Rommens would surely be a worthy successor to Tavernier if recent months are anything to go by.
First impressions aren’t everything, and can at times be misleading, but boy has the Belgian made a good one.
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