Rangers eye English left-back as part of 'defensive overhaul' - report

Rangers have been linked with Derby County’s Derry Murkin as the Scottish giants prepare for a “defensive overhaul”.

Rangers and Celtic are apparently keeping tabs on the English left-back after an impressive couple of months at the Championship side.

The 26-year-old joined Derby from Dutch side FC Utrecht in early February for around £1.7million on a deal until the summer of 2029.

But just seven games into his spell with the Rams, former Schalke player Murkin has been credited with interest from the Old Firm teams.

Rangers are said to be looking for defensive reinforcements ahead of next season and now it seems they have set their sights on Murkin.

Celtic leading race to sign Rangers target Derry Murkin

According to Football Fancast, Celtic are currently ahead of Rangers in the race to sign Murkin from Derby.

Murkin has been superb for Derby this season, ranking as the club’s highest performing player on WhoScored (7.18) with two assists in seven Championship games.

Celtic are set to be in the market for a new left-back this summer if they are unable to turn Marcelo Saracchi’s loan move from Boca Juniors into a permanent deal.

The report adds that Rangers are expected to undergo a “defensive overhaul this summer”, with James Tavernier approaching the end of his contract and Emmanuel Fernandez attracting interest elsewhere.

Murkin could be a shrewd signing for Rangers as he can play at left-back, as a left midfielder and a left winger.

But Derby will demand a sizeable fee for the defender, especially as he only signed in February and still has more than three years left on his contract.

Rangers have to make do with what they’ve got for now

Transfer moves will have to wait until the summer, though. For now, Rangers have a Scottish Premiership title to win.

Danny Rohl’s team sit third in the league ahead of a clash with Aberdeen at Ibrox on Saturday afternoon.

Rangers secured an important, but unconvincing, win at St. Mirren last Sunday, and if they want to keep up with top two sides Hearts and Celtic, they need to claim all three points against Aberdeen.

If results go their way this weekend, Rangers could go top of the table as the first phase of the league season draws to a close.

After this clash, the Gers host Dundee United before travelling to Falkirk. Realistically, Rangers cannot afford to make any more slip-ups if they want to win their first league title since 2018.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.