By Alan Hutton

13th Sep, 2019 | 11:32am

Exclusive: Alan Hutton tips Rangers 27-yr-old to soon quit Ibrox for PL club

EXCLUSIVE

Alan Hutton has tipped Rangers defender James Tavernier to join a Premier League club.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider correspondent Russell Edge, the former Gers, Tottenham and Aston Villa full-back is convinced that the 27-year-old is ready for a move to the English top flight.

Tavernier, who learned his trade in the English lower leagues before joining Rangers from Wigan Athletic in 2015, has developed into one of the outstanding players in Scotland.

Hutton is a massive fan of his fellow right-back and believes the Ibrox skipper is now of the quality needed to play in the Premier League.

“I think so,” he told Football Insider. “Obviously it’s a massive test if you’re going to the Premier League, that’s the ultimate (test) really. I think that’s where he would want to play.

“It’s difficult, you really have to be on your game, but I think with the right team, the right manager, if he continues to work hard he can soon do it.”

Tavernier is not only a reliable defender but a regular provider of goals and assists from defence, including five assists already from his 11 matches this season.

The Englishman was even more prolific last season, when his 57 matches yielded a remarkable 17 goals and 20 assists.

Hutton added: “I would say he’s the best in Scotland. Stats don’t lie and I know people kind of obviously always say about the defending thing
but he’s improving and I think as long as you see improvement that’s obviously a good thing.”

In other Rangers news, a player with 151 Premier League appearances has REVEALED how he was offered the chance to return to Ibrox.