Arsenal

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Premier League • England

Rangers determined to complete Arsenal transfer for star who’s just been named player of the year

Birmingham City centre-back Auston Trusty on loan from Arsenal

Scottish giant Rangers have turned to an Arsenal defender whose just been named Player of the Year at his loan club, and a surprisingly low fee can reportedly swing a deal, per a report.

Rangers have another round of soul-searching on the horizon this summer after seeing Celtic crowned SPL champions for the second straight year.

According to the Daily Mail, a defensive addition is wanted to revamp the centre-half ranks and Rangers are ‘keen’ on USA international, Auston Trusty.

The 24-year-old plies his trade at club level for Arsenal following his arrival from Colorado Rapids in 2022.

Trusty was subsequently loaned out to Championship side Birmingham City for the current campaign where he was recently named their fans’ Player of the Year.

However, rather than return to north London to shore up Mikel Arteta’s backline, a starting role could await up at Ibrox.

The Mail report Trusty is ’emerging as the man Rangers want to strengthen their defence this summer’.

The SPL heavyweight are reportedly ‘keen to get a deal done’ and believe the extremely modest sum of £2m can secure Trusty’s signature.

That would appear to be a surprisingly low sum for a player who’s just been named Player of the Season at a Championship side.

However, the Mail do not indicate it would be a loan arrangement, and other outlets who’ve cited the Mail’s information stress a permanent deal would be in the offing.

Whether such a small sum would be enough to cajole Arsenal into a sale isn’t speculated. However, it is noted Trusty is more known for his physical attributes as opposed to his technical ones.

As such, he may be deemed a poor fit for Arteta’s backline, with the Spaniard favouring a possession-based game in the Premier League.

The Mail add Rangers have already wrapped up a deal for Norwich City midfielder, Kieran Dowell, ahead of the summer window.

Ex-England international, Jack Butland, is also on their radar. The goalkeeper is currently on loan at Man Utd from Crystal Palace, though a package to sign the 30-year-old is deemed ‘expensive’ and perhaps slightly too ambitious for Rangers’ budget at present.

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