Rangers' previous interest in Morgan Whittaker has resurfaced after the Middlesbrough winger emerged as the latest Championship player to attract a club-record MLS move.
Whittaker is closing in on a transfer to the Colorado Rapids, with Tom Bogert reporting that a deal has been agreed and the 25-year-old is undergoing a medical in London. He scored 14 goals and registered seven assists last season.
The move brings back memories of Rangers' pursuit of Whittaker during Michael Beale's time in charge at Ibrox, a transfer saga that famously resulted in a public disagreement between Beale and then-Swansea boss Russell Martin, who would later manage the Ibrox club.
Rangers and Whittaker saga
Rangers made Whittaker a target in January 2023 after the winger had impressed during a loan spell at Plymouth Argyle.
Martin revealed at the time that Swansea had rejected an offer from Rangers.
“We have rejected an offer from them, that's it,” Martin said.
The comments appeared to catch Beale off guard.
Following Rangers' victory over Kilmarnock, the Ibrox boss said: “Did he really? I didn't know we had made a bid but I will talk about the player."
Beale added that Whittaker was a player Rangers liked but insisted he had not been told that a formal offer had been made.
The situation quickly developed into one of the more unusual transfer stories of Beale's Rangers tenure.
Beale later confirmed Rangers bid
In an update later that month, Beale confirmed that Rangers had submitted one bid for Whittaker, and that it had been rejected.
“He'll be staying at Swansea I believe,” Beale said.
“There was one bid that went in and it got rejected and since then there's been a lot of hot air around the situation.
“I thought he was the strongest or most eye-catching player in League One this season.”
Rangers failed to reach an agreement with Swansea that window and Whittaker remained in England before completing a permanent move to Plymouth.
He later established himself as a Championship player and eventually joined Middlesbrough.
Whittaker now set for MLS move
More than three years after Rangers' interest, Whittaker is now poised to leave Middlesbrough for Colorado.
Bogert reports that the Rapids have agreed a deal for a club-record fee, with the winger completing his medical in London.
There is also an interesting Rangers connection to the current situation. Brighton winger Amario Cozier-Duberry, another player Rangers have pursued this summer, has emerged as a potential replacement for Whittaker at Middlesbrough if the deal goes through.
The winger is also expected to sign a new Brighton contract before joining Boro on loan, leaving Rangers to chase other wide targets before Thursday’s deadline.
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