Michael Stewart stands by comments made in 2021 regarding Rangers captain James Tavernier

It comes after the final European transfer windows closed recently, including in Turkey where Tavernier was heavily linked with a move to – the likes of Trabzonspor and Besiktas were credited with interest in the summer.

Philippe Clement insists no bids were made for the Rangers skipper and branded the transfer exit noise as mere speculation.

Rangers fans have been unhappy with Tavernier’s performances of late – particularly in the Old Firm defeat to Celtic – and questions have been asked whether he should still be at the club.

Premier Sports pundit Stewart, speaking on The Scottish Football Social Club, thinks it would have been very difficult for Rangers to sanction Tavernier’s exit in the summer if indeed interest in him was real.

But he revisited his own viewpoint in 2021 when he said the Light Blues should have cashed in on Tavernier when Steven Gerrard was still the manager.

And in turn, that would have allowed Rangers to appoint young defender Nathan Patterson as first choice right-back and develop him even further to the point where he could be sold on.

Patterson was sold for around £12m with add ons taking the fee to potentially £16m – but Stewart says Rangers missed a trick with Tavernier.

What Stewart said about Tavernier in 2021

Stewart told BBC Sportsound at the time, via The Scottish Sun: “Tavernier has just signed a new contract with Rangers and is hitting his peak. He could excel for another two or three seasons, there’s no question about that.

“But when you’re looking at the longevity and progress of Nathan Patterson, signing Tavernier for another three years isn’t ideal.

“It’s a difficult one to then continue Patterson’s progress when your captain and one of the main players in your team is inevitably going to be starting every game.

“There’s no doubt Tavernier is a better player at this moment in time. But you look at longevity. Patterson is 19 and will be 20 this year. Tavernier is 29 now.

“So Patterson is someone who could be at Rangers for a decade. These are tough decisions to make for a manager. But I don’t think it would have been managerial suicide to have not re-signed Tavernier.

“If you sell him you’re making a lot of money. And you’re getting a youth player through the system that you could potentially sell in five or six years for a lot of money as well.”