NafisaRangers have moved quickly to strengthen their defence following their painful European exit, with the club agreeing a loan deal to bring James Penrice back to Scotland from AEK Athens, GIVEMESPORT sources understand.
The move comes at a particularly difficult moment for Derek McInnes, whose start to life as Rangers manager has been far from straightforward. The Ibrox side were knocked out of the Europa League third qualifying round by Polish minnows Jagiellonia Białystok on Thursday night, following a 1-1 draw in Glasgow.
That result means McInnes is still waiting for his first victory as Rangers boss, having now gone four matches without a win since replacing Danny Rohl.
Yet Rangers have wasted little time in turning their attention towards strengthening the squad.
Despite already welcoming nine new players this summer and reaching an agreement to sign PSV Eindhoven winger Couhaib Driouech, the club have now struck another deal — and this one has a familiar connection to the Rangers manager.
GIVEMESPORT sources understand that Rangers have agreed a season-long loan with AEK Athens for Penrice, with the 27-year-old set to return to Scotland as McInnes looks to address a growing problem at the back.
The Ibrox club will also have the option to make the transfer permanent next summer for €2m (£1.7m), giving Rangers the opportunity to secure Penrice’s long-term future should his loan spell prove successful.
A medical has already been booked for Friday, meaning the deal could progress rapidly over the coming hours.
Rangers’ interest in Penrice is not new. GIVEMESPORT previously reported earlier this month that the Glasgow giants were exploring the possibility of bringing the left-back back to Scotland, and that interest has now developed into a concrete agreement.
There is also a strong personal connection behind the move.
McInnes knows Penrice from his time at Hearts and was already a major admirer of the defender before he left Scotland for AEK Athens last summer. The Rangers boss has now used that previous relationship to bring the player to Ibrox.
Penrice will become the latest former Hearts player to join McInnes at Rangers this summer, following Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin through the door.
The timing of the deal could prove particularly important.
Rangers have already been forced to contend with defensive injury problems during the opening stages of the campaign, with Tuur Rommens suffering a hamstring injury that could sideline him for between six and eight weeks.
That absence has left McInnes without a natural left-footed option in defence, making Penrice’s arrival an increasingly important piece of business.
Rangers are now hopeful that everything can be completed in time for Penrice to be included in the squad for Sunday’s Scottish League Cup meeting with St Mirren.
And there is little doubt that McInnes will be delighted if that happens.
McInnes a Huge Fan of Penrice
The Rangers manager has previously made his admiration for Penrice abundantly clear.
McInnes worked with the defender briefly before Penrice’s move away from Hearts, and he admitted after the transfer that he had previously attempted to sign the player himself.
His praise went beyond simply describing Penrice as a promising left-back, with McInnes even drawing comparisons between him and Scotland legend Andy Robertson.
“That was a blow for us because we were really looking forward to working with James. But such was the deal for the club and for the boy, it was the right thing,” he said.
“I thought it was a brilliant signing for Hearts when they got him. I think he’s done brilliantly for Hearts and he’s deserving of the opportunity that’s been given to him.”
“I tried to take him to Kilmarnock. I think he was almost like a young Andy Robertson when he got his move.
“I thought there were similarities. When I got the job at Hearts, I was kind of regretting saying that and thinking: ‘I hope we can just hold on to him’. But we always felt he was a slight risk.”
Now, after Rangers’ European disappointment exposed the need for further reinforcements, McInnes has finally got another opportunity to work with a player he has admired for several years.
Penrice’s immediate task will be to provide much-needed defensive balance, but the option to sign him permanently for €2m next summer means the move could become far more significant than a short-term solution.
For Rangers, the priority is now clear: recover from their European setback and make sure the squad is ready for the challenges ahead.
Penrice could be the latest piece of McInnes’ rapidly developing Ibrox rebuild.
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