Rangers and Celtic are vying for Kilmarnock loanee Will Dennis from Bournemouth in a free transfer fight.
Will Dennis, the custodian for Bournemouth, has a contract that expires in the summer, therefore Rangers are reportedly “keeping close tabs” on him, reports the Daily Record.
On December 20, the newspaper revealed on its website that Celtic, an Old Firm opponent, and the “impressive” Kilmarnock player, who is now on loan, are both interested in the 23-year-old. Both teams are speculating that the player may leave their current squad.
Under Derek McInnes, Dennis has started every SPFL game played thus far this season. Killie is currently in sixth place as the new year approaches.
The continuous conflict between Rangers and Celtic about away fans during Glasgow derbies may lead to a transfer battle right after the team’s December 30 visit to Parkhead.
Dennis hasn’t played for the first team at Premier League Bournemouth, but his contract there is up in the summer, so starting next month, he can negotiate a cross-border free transfer.
Compare and contrast
For the foreseeable future, Jack Butland is the indisputable starter at Ibrox unless someone makes a sizable offer to entice the Rangers.
However, with both Robby McCrorie and Jon McLaughlin under question—the former was previously linked to a summer departure, and the latter is probably going to be leaving when his own contract expires—a low-cost purchase of a player with SPFL experience may make a lot of sense.
Although their desire would require Benjy Siegrist to depart, if Celtic are also pursuing him, that might well heighten the interest in moving him to this side of Glasgow instead of letting a strong, youthful alternative fall into the hands of the Light Blues’ opponents.
If there isn’t going to be a sudden change in Bournemouth’s situation, Rangers should definitely approach Dennis in January to see if he would be interested in moving to Ibrox and to find out how much a contract modification may cost.
Although McLaughlin, 36, might be given a one-year extension as a backup plan, it wouldn’t be shocking if McCrorie, 25, or him left in the summer.
Rangers need to be alert if Philippe Clement is interested in acquiring Dennis as a replacement, or else they run the risk of losing him to Parkhead.
Another thing to think about for the player who has seven clean sheets this season is if McInnes would be in the running to keep the Cherries player at Rugby Park, where he could probably continue to play for the first team.
