Rangers keep getting linked to £2m full-back – Ideal result for them

Rangers face a genuine shortage at left‑back after loan players departed and Tuur Rommens left, leaving a hole that must be filled before the chase for Celtic intensifies. James Penrice, 27, is on the market after a £2m move from Hearts, and a reduced fee could fit the club’s budget.

Greek outlet Sportime reported that AEK Athens could soon open formal talks to sign a replacement left‑back, signalling that Penrice may be free to leave.

Transfer Feed quickly picked up the trail, naming Rangers as a likely landing spot if the Athens club decides to cut ties.

Penrice arrived at the Agia Sophia Stadium last summer in a £2m transfer from Hearts, but his first year abroad did not go to plan; his contract runs until June 2028, giving AEK two years of leverage.

In the Greek Super League last term he made 20 appearances, totalling 1,367 minutes, with zero goals, seven yellow cards, 1.71 tackles and 0.86 interceptions per 90 minutes, and a clearance rate of 2.83 per 90.

His discipline record – seven bookings in 20 matches – raises concerns for a full‑back expected to press high in a frantic system.

Penrice’s final season at Hearts was superb: he won the club’s player of the year award and earned a place in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year for 2024‑25, highlighting his underlying quality.

However, consistency is in question after a stellar year in Edinburgh followed by a messy season in Greece, leaving a massive question mark over his current level.

Manager Michael McInnes has been explicit about wanting a left‑sided centre‑back, a right winger and a central midfielder; a left‑back was not on the primary shopping list, making Penrice a gamble.

Corrie Ndaba, who can cover both left‑back and centre‑back, is also being linked this month and costs roughly the same, offering the versatility the rebuilding squad needs.

If AEK drops the price significantly below the original £2m – possibly under £1m – and Penrice is willing to fight for a starting spot, the deal could make sense, though Rangers must justify any spending given the player’s recent disciplinary record and the need for an immediate impact.

The year ahead will test the club’s transfer strategy as they weigh the risk of a project player against the urgency of plugging a genuine vacancy on the left flank.