“He’d be at Ibrox Early Next Week” — Rangers Finally Approves Deal for Top EPL Player in a SURPRISING SUMMER TRANSFER That Would Excite Gers But Make Tavernier Unhappy

Rangers in Advanced Talks to Sign Conor Coady as Ibrox Shake-Up Continues

Rangers are closing in on a deal to sign Leicester City defender Conor Coady, as Russell Martin’s summer overhaul of the Ibrox squad gathers serious momentum.

With Lyall Cameron and Max Aarons already confirmed as new arrivals, Martin is now turning his attention to the spine of his side. And with senior centre-backs departing or unavailable, it appears a new defensive leader could soon be incoming.

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Rangers are “in advanced talks” to sign Coady and are “confident” of completing the deal “early next week”. The England international, who only joined Leicester from Wolves last summer, could become a cornerstone of Martin’s new-look back line.

The timing could not be more crucial. Leon Balogun has departed to join Aris Limassol on a free transfer, reuniting with Connor Goldson in Cyprus. Meanwhile, Robin Pröpper is reportedly close to sealing a return to FC Twente, just a year after arriving in Glasgow. John Souttar is also a doubt for the Champions League third qualifying round opener against Panathinaikos on 22 July, following recent hernia surgery.

That leaves Rangers short on experienced options at centre-half – a gap Coady could fill seamlessly.

The 31-year-old brings a wealth of experience, including over 350 appearances across the Premier League and Championship, plus 10 England caps. Despite Leicester’s relegation to the Championship, his leadership qualities have not gone unnoticed, especially given the turmoil Martin is seeking to stabilise.

As reported by Rob Tanner of The Athletic, Coady is among several high earners the Foxes are willing to offload following their drop from the top flight. With just a year left on his contract and a reported £75,000-a-week wage, he is one of only four Leicester players on such terms, according to Capology.

While a move to Ibrox would likely involve a significant wage cut, the opportunity to play European football and take on a leadership role could prove enticing for Coady. And there’s even a growing sense that he could be in line to become club captain.

Current skipper James Tavernier remains a club legend. Since arriving from Wigan Athletic in 2015, the right-back has made 513 appearances, scoring an astonishing 130 goals and registering 142 assists – numbers rarely seen from a defender. Only ten players in Rangers’ history have played more games.

Tavernier, named captain by Steven Gerrard in 2018, has led Rangers to a league title and European finals, but questions around his long-term role have surfaced. BBC Sport’s Clive Lindsay highlighted his omission from a Europa League tie against Olympiacos last November – something previously unthinkable – as a sign that his influence may be waning.

At 33, Tavernier is still expected to play a significant role under Martin. But with Coady potentially arriving, there may be a symbolic shift in leadership at Ibrox to accompany the tactical and personnel overhaul already underway.

For Rangers, the focus remains clear: build a squad capable of reaching the Champions League group stages and toppling Celtic domestically. The addition of Conor Coady, both as a player and a leader, could prove central to those ambitions.