NEW RANGERS MANAGER Mark Warburton is on the verge of making Rob Kiernan his first signing of the summer after having a £200,000 bid for the Wigan defender accepted by the Latics.
The former Republic of Ireland Under 21 captain was at Watford when Warburton was their youth coach and was also at Brentford on loan from Wigan in 2012 during Warburton’s time as the Bees’ sporting director.
Warburton was appointed Gers boss on a three-year deal on Monday but with 11 of last season’s squad leaving and just 39 days to the new season, he faces a mammoth task to turn the Ibrox club around. Chairman Dave King has told Warburton he must clinch promotion at the first attempt.
Left with just nine senior professionals, it’s expected to be a busy summer at Ibrox. Just two days into his reign, Warburton has wasted little time getting down to work rebuilding the squad.
Kiernan, who has 14 caps for the Republic of Ireland U21 side, made 18 appearances for Wigan last year before being sent on loan to Birmingham for the last three months of the campaign.
He was expected to make a permanent move to St Andrews but reports say Birmingham backed out of a move for the 24-year-old following problems with his medical. The player’s camp deny these claims and say it was Kiernan who backed out of the deal after learning that Warburton wanted to take him to Ibrox.
Warburton is currently in the Czech Republic watching the European Under 21 Championships and told Record Sport he expects Kiernan to be a success in Glasgow.
“Rob is exactly the kind of player I want to attract. Hopefully he’ll be in Glasgow on Monday to go through the medical and finalise the deal.
“For a defender, he’s technically excellent and at 6ft 3in has a real athletic presence. He has proved his credentials in the English Championship but most importantly is still young enough to develop and to be improved.
“That’s exactly the kind of player we are looking to bring to Ibrox because what we want to build here is a team for the future.”
Danny Wilson, another ex-Ibrox youth product, is also understood to be considering a return to Gers after leaving Hearts. Warburton wants Kiernan and Wilson to form the defensive heart of a new looking starting XI.
Do you think Rob Kiernan will be a success at Rangers?
Pogbaaaaaaaaa
A completely different side to what was seen under José. Now the players can truly express themselves! Even if Ole says they haven’t really changed the tactics, as long as they play like this, tactics are just fine with me.
@Gavin Mitchell: the pantomime villain is gone, United should give ole a 5 year contract
@Gavin Mitchell: Im actually sitting watching Man United and willing them to attack and score another goal again.. probably not now that Bailey is sent off.
Man United are on an upward trajectory, Solksjaer has told them to enjoy themselves 1000 times by now, and the rest is plain sailing
@Eamo world class Dunphy: I dare to say, after 3 wins against Cardiff, Huddersfield and soon to be Bournemouth, the good times are back, baby
@Eamo world class Dunphy: after seeing some of the team’s spurs and city have dropped points to recently then I would agree, 3 very good results. Considering where United were at prior to that
Paul Pogba, ballon d’or 2019
@Eamo world class Dunphy: trolling
@Anthony: eamo never trolls baby
The new kid… Pogba? He’s pretty good!
When United come up against a proper team then we can judge them, people are saying spurs will destroy them but sure look at what wolves did yesterday to spurs.
Still needs some work on the defence though but the style of football is completely different under Ole. Amazing how much Jose was holding them back. Hopefully the don’t down tools again. Aiming for top 4 while Liverpool chase the title is brutal.
I wonder who will win?
@Ross Fehily: utd will clip them
God Pogba and Rashford have been immense. I have to say Pogba is really showing his class now. Still has a bit to go to justify his price tag but he’s going the right way about it. Naturally any Man U haters will not agree, that’s to be expected lol
Deserved goal from Bournmouth had 3 good chances, took one.
Utd poor from corners all year, centrebacks needed in January.
Pogba brilliant but showing how much he held back under Jose.
If United can maintain this positivity, I can see them nipping 4th. And with transfer windows they can clear out the average players and go big. Alderwerald, Koulebale, maybe bid for Varane? And replace Matic with a younger faster similar style player.
@Finn Faulkner: dead on.
@Finn Faulkner: a solid CB and a world class CM is all the tinkering needed.. and a permanent manager, and DDG to sign a new contract!! Great work so far, long road yet.
Lidelof, Shaw, Young, not good enough for utd.
@Martin McKenna: they’re all great under ole. Jose was mean to them. They stopped playing under Jose cos he wasn’t nice to them. They’re great players now
@Eamo world class Dunphy: Lindelof an accident waiting to happen.
@Martin McKenna: I think Shaw is good enough for United and Young has been a solid player for the last 6 years. I think he’s worth keeping around as he’s a decent squad player. Lindelof has been very poor but like the rest of the team he looks a different player since Mourinho left.
@Martin McKenna: I always thought of Young as a leader. Seems to be no nonsense kind of guy
@Robert O Farrell: agree in the main but would love a top centreback, look at the difference van dyke made for pool.
Think utd need certainty at the back for next season to contend and definitely if Europe is on the horizon.
@Bluey: He got a new contract last season despite being nowhere near the starting XI. Apparently Jose didn’t want to lose his influence in the dressing room
@Virgil Van Dijk: when you win silverware then you can talk !!
@Martin McKenna: people been saying that Lindelof is an accident waiting to happen but he is Uniteds best defender. He’s got very good positional sense
WHy can’t I see any comments on this page ?
@Chris Cantwell: very philosophical question, I also “can’t see any comments”