Sign one player to sell another?

Stevie Gerrard has signed 25-year-old Jon Flanagan to make his seventh signing after the former Liverpool defender passed yesterday’s rigorous medical. Jon wasted no time in joining his new team mates in Malaga, when he was introduced to them at training today.

It included a thorough medical applied to Flanagan’s current knee condition, following an operation, which has been given the all-clear and declared a complete success.

Gerrard knows exactly what Jon could bring to his new club, because apart from his natural talent as a defender, he is an England internationalist, and a high quality versatile player who can play anywhere along the back line. He might also become a good defensive midfield player. if required to fill in at any time.

Without Stevie G, there is no way Flanagan would have signed a 2-year free transfer deal. He admitted today his old team mate and new gaffer was a massive influence on the move. He is an extremely strong first team player costing us nothing, which leaves us more money for other areas of the park to be greatly improved.

Flanagan is the standard of player that more fans will be hoping Gerrard brings to Ibrox, with his many years experience of playing in the EPL at the highest level in a top class Liverpool team.

At Rangers every player is put under the microscope by the hard to please Ibrox fans and the bias of most of the media. Gerrard and McAllister are both confident that Jon can cope with that same experience he played under with great success at Anfield.

In January, Flanagan was sentenced to a 12-month community order after admitting attacking his girlfriend three days before Christmas. This resulted in Liverpool’s decision to release him when his contract was up this summer.

He pled guilty and showed real remorse for his terrible mistake, but he has to move on from this trying period.

It is my belief that Flanagan is worth a second chance!

Finally, he decided that Rangers with Gerrard and McAllister’s professionalism, ability and attitude, was the right place to rebuild his career, credibility and his new life in Scotland.

After seven great years at Liverpool, he spent the second half of last season on loan to Bolton and I cannot see Stevie bringing his ex-team mate Flanagan to Ibrox to play for the reserves – can you?

However, will this signing lead to Gerrard accepting a good offer to sell current right back and periodic captain James Tavernier to one of his many admirers from England believed to be willing to pay a good fee for his services? Number one Gary McAllister suggests Tav will play a key role next season but money speaks.

Personally, I will not be surprised if Gerrard sees the opportunity of a free transfer right back starting for Rangers and the Ibrox club receiving £3m+ for Tavernier – a great piece of business, especially if it makes us even stronger in defence.

Tavernier is certainly a good player as a wing-back, but a liability right back who will always cost Rangers points and games due to his ‘gone missing’ style of play. He attacks too often and leaves the back door wide open for too many breakaway goals.

Let’s sign one, sell the other and give everyone a new lease of life.