Bournemouth midfielder set for loan exit 18 months on from turning down Rangers chance

Joe Rothwell, a midfielder for Bournemouth, is expected to accept a

loan deal with Southampton, 18 months after turning down the opportunity to go with Rangers.

As far back as the January 2022 transfer window, Rothwell was linked to Rangers,

and at one point, it was said that the Gers were “almost certain” to make a move for the then-Blackburn star.

But after six months, the former Manchester United youth moved to

freshly promoted Bournemouth, where he has spent the previous year and a

half, with Rangers once more being connected to the player.

Joe Rothwell to Southampton

The midfielder’s stint in the Premier League looks to be coming to an end for

now as he readies a switch to aid Championship promotion candidates Southampton.

The likes of Sky Sports are reporting that Bournemouth have agreed to let the 29-year-old move to St Mary’s.

Claiming the midfielder is having a medical on the south coast, it comes with

Joe Rothwell having made 11 appearances in the Premier League this season.

This is on top of the 20 Premier League appearances Rothwell made for

Bournemouth last season, the Rangers-linked midfielder very much a useful squad option for the Cherries.

Midfielder chose Bournemouth over Rangers

Ibrox fans will note the transfer after the player appears to have turned down the opportunity to move to Glasgow 18 months ago.

The Gers were strongly linked with Rothwell’s contract ticking down at Blackburn Rovers but in the end of the pull of the Premier League proved too strong for the Ibrox side.

But it is quite remarkable that in this day and age Rangers have difficulty competing with the likes of Bournemouth – who have an 11k seater stadium and have never won a major honour – in the pursuit of players.

Joe Rothwell has returned to the Championship, presumably in an attempt to play more often, and it begs the question of whether the midfield player feels guilty about passing up the opportunity to go down in English football history as a legendary example of mediocrity.

Even if Rangers lack the financial resources to compete with teams in the

Premier League’s lower divisions, there is more than just money at stake at Ibrox.