Russell Martin is looking to add to his defensive options at Rangers ahead of the transfer window’s closure tonight with an experienced full back from Serie A.
30-year old former Aston Villa defender Frédéric Guilbert has been linked with a move to Ibrox today as Rangers look to tighten up their leaky backline.
Currently at Lecce in Eastern Italy the French defender has had spells with Villa, Bordeaux, Caen and Strasbourg. Naturally a right back, he has also operated at left back and the heart of defence.
At 5 foot 10 the full back is a defensive minded full back, and a different option to both James Tavernier at right back and Jayden Meghoma at left back. Capable with both feet, the former France Under 21 international is well renowned in the air and a tough tackler. Reminiscent of current Ibrox defender Dujon Sterling, his imminent arrival casts doubts on the future of both the former Chelsea man and that of disappointing loanee Max Aarons.
Aarons has been poor so far and has already lost his starting spot to aging club captain Tavernier, who started against Celtic yesterday in the first Old Firm derby of the season.
However, it is expected that Guilbert will be brought in to compete with the Brentford loanee for the left back position, as well as adding cover at centre back.
Derek Cornelious is set to arrive from Marseille to start at centre back alongside Wolves loanee Nasser Djiga, leaving John Souttar as a rotation option and Emmanuel Fernandez as backup. Leon King has been told he can leave Ibrox, so Guilbert will arrive as cover in case of a central injury crisis.
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With over 300 career appearances he will add much needed experience to a young and mostly inexperienced backline ahead of the campaign, as Rangers and Martin look to recover from a poor start which has seen the Gers draw all four of their opening league encounters under the former Southampton boss.