James Tavernier confirms Rangers exit after 11 years

James Tavernier has confirmed he will leave Rangers when his contract expires in the summer.

The 34-year-old will depart as a free agent after 11 seasons at Ibrox. The right-back signed for Rangers when the Scottish side were in the second tier and has played a key role in the club’s reestablishment in Scotland.

Tavernier has scored 144 goals in 562 games for Rangers and has won five major trophies. He captained the club to the 2020/21 Scottish Premiership title unbeaten and was named PFA Scotland Players’ Player of the Year. turconews.click

“This club has been a huge part of my life and my family’s over the past 11 years,” he said in a statement.

“It’s given me so much, both on and off the pitch and from the moment I arrived, I’ve always tried to give everything I had to represent it in the right way.

“To have had the honour of being made captain of this club since 2018 is something I will always be incredibly proud of. Leading this team out, wearing the armband and being trusted in that role has meant more to me that I can properly put into words.

“There is still a season to finish and we are fully focused on pushing for the league title,” Tavernier said. “I will continue to give absolutely everything, as I always have until the very last day.

“My focus right now is on finishing this season the right way, together.”

Read – Liam Rosenior rant in full following ‘indefensible’ Chelsea defeat to Brighton

See more – Remembering the night that Kaka tore Manchester United apart

Follow the Football Faithful on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok

Edge rusher is a position where most believe the New Orleans Saints will use an early selection on in the 2026 NFL Draft. It could come as early as their first round choice, the eighth overall selection. However, Oklahoma Sooners pass rusher R Mason Thomas is among a few talents who could be available to the Saints and other teams in the second day of the draft.

New Orleans got a combined 28.5 sacks, 43 QB hits, and 39 tackles for loss from their ends last season. While Chase Young is only 27 and coming off his best year, Cameron Jordan would be entering his 16th season and remains an unsigned free agent. Carl Granderson is a nice rotational player, but hasn't been a consistently productive starter. If the Saints go another direction with their first pick, then Thomas might be an answer to complement Young.

R Mason Thomas bio

• Position: Edge rusher
• College: Oklahoma Sooners
• Height: 6-feet, 2 inches
• Weight: 241 pounds
• 40-yard dash: 4.67 seconds
• 10-yard split: 1.63 seconds

Out of Cardinal Gibbons High School in Florida, Thomas would commit to the Oklahoma Sooners. He'd see limited action as a freshman backup in 2022 but would also be sidelined a few games because of hamstring issues. Thomas missed a few games again in 2023, but would see more action when healthy and ended up with 2.5 stops for loss and a sack.

Thomas had 9 sacks and 12.5 stops for loss during a full season for the Sooners in 2024, leading the team in both categories. It was also enough to earn him 2nd Team All-SEC recognition. Last season, he again missed a few games with leg injuries. Still, Thomas flashed enough to earn 1st Team All-SEC honors with 6.5 sacks and 9.5 stops for loss along with 4 forced fumbles over his final two seasons at Oklahoma.

Strengths

• Explosive get-off at snap
• Very good dip around edge to get around blockers
• Takes smart angles to the ball
• Decent power in pass rush
• Good recognition of inside runs
• Excellent pursuit speed

Weaknesses

• Lacks ideal length and size
• Gets routinely dominated by larger blockers
• Doesn't have the strength or base for a down lineman spot
• Pushed around easily as a run defender
• Missed multiple games in 3 of 4 seasons

R Mason Thomas 2026 draft outlook

If R Mason Thomas were bigger or even had prototype length, he may be mentioned as a late first round sleeper. As it is, his speed around the edge and natural pass rushing skills make him a probable Day 2 choice, perhaps as early as the second round. He has some scheme limitations because of his size and need to add power. However, he can be a very effective situational pass rusher in the right system.

A team like the Saints would employ their ends in a lot of stand-up rushing roles. For Thomas, this is the ideal fit. If New Orleans goes another direction with their first round choice, then R Mason Thomas could definitely upgrade their pass rush and be a passing down complement to Chase Young if available on the second day.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Oklahoma Sooners EDGE R Mason Thomas scouting report

• Guardiola describes Guehi and Khusanov as ‘extraordinary’ amid City’s injury woes at centre-back
• City boss insists the future is “bright” after watching both defenders grow considerably this season
• John Stones has recovered from a calf injury while Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias remain sidelined

Pep Guardiola has heaped praise on centre-back pairing Marc Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov, declaring the defensive duo ‘extraordinary’ as Manchester City prepare for Wednesday’s Premier League trip to Burnley.

The pair have been thrust into regular action together following a damaging run of injuries in central defence, with Josko Gvardiol sidelined since January with a tibial fracture and Ruben Dias having missed the past several weeks with a hamstring problem.

Despite the disruption, City have conceded just once in their last four games, a defensive record that Guardiola is clearly attributing in no small part to the performances of two acquisitions from the last 15 months.

Marc Guehi: Manchester City’s future captain?

Marc Guehi joined from Crystal Palace for £20 million in January and has been a composed and commanding presence at the heart of City’s backline since arriving at the Etihad Stadium, while Abdukodir Khusanov has grown considerably since his £33.5 million arrival from RC Lens in January 2025.

Guardiola: The future will be bright

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Turf Moor, Guardiola was fulsome in his praise for both defenders while also acknowledging the broader picture of an injury-ravaged defensive unit finding its feet.

“Extraordinary. Like Nathan (Ake) when he played the final of the Carabao Cup, he was maybe one of the best players on the pitch. Jonny’s (John Stones) coming back. Unfortunately Josko (Gvardiol) and Ruben (Dias) have been injured,” he said.

BlogNeuville Crashes Out of Croatia Rally Lead in Final Mile Katsuta Takes Win and Championship Top SpotThierry Neuville threw away a one-minute lead on the final competitive mile of the 2026 Croatia Rally, clipping a concrete block at a fork, tearing the front-right corner off hi...Open →

“But of course, in the last games Marc (Guehi) and Khusa (Khusanov). When I said weeks ago, the team, the future will be bright because I see young, young players, they grew up a lot that season and will be for the next year, many, many years there and that is really good for us.”

The reference to Nathan Ake is a reminder that City’s defensive depth, even in the face of significant absentees, has proven more than capable of rising to the occasion.

Ake’s display in the Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal at Wembley was one of the performances of his City career – and Guardiola’s bracketing of Guehi and Khusanov alongside him speaks to a genuine belief in what this defensive unit can offer.

Marc Guehi snubs Premier League Player of the Match award in favour of Man City teammate

What does Guardiola’s praise mean for City’s future?

Guardiola’s assertion that the future is ‘bright’ carries considerable weight in the context of a summer that will bring significant change throughout the squad.

Bernardo Silva has already confirmed his departure and Rodri‘s contract future remains unresolved, but the emergence of Guehi and Khusanov as reliable, high-calibre starters provides director of football Hugo Viana with a platform of genuine defensive stability to build from.

John Stones has recovered from the calf injury sustained during the international break, which will give Guardiola welcome additional options at the heart of defence in the defining weeks of the season.

With six Premier League games remaining and the title race now separated by just three points, every clean sheet between now and the final day could prove decisive.

British tennis legend Andy Murray recently reflected on his brief coaching foray with Novak Djokovic.

With his trademark dry humor, Murray admitted that Djokovic probably learned nothing from their time together, but Murray did.

Those learnings will be beneficial as Murray considers coaching in the future.

MORE: Katie Boulter, Cam Norrie are only Brits in Mutua Madrid Open draw

Murray says no to coaching right now

He admitted that he would like to coach at some point, but now is not the time.

Murray has young children so it is understandable that the grind of an 11-month tournament and travel schedule would not be appealing.

When he coached Djokovic, he was not present at every tournament.

MORE: Recent French Open decisions anger fans and appeal to players

What he learned from Djokovic

Murray, who turns 39 next month, admitted that watching Djokovic prepare was interesting and helpful and served as a comparison to his own preparations when he played on the ATP Tour.

However, the biggest thing he learned, and it is something that he reiterated is important with children is communication.

Being able to communicate a message and listening to the feedback are vital.

Murray as a WTA coach is easy to envision

Obviously, Murray would be considered a frontrunner at any point to coach young British hopefuls like Jack Draper and those who are coming through the pipeline behind him.

However, many think Murray would coach a WTA player. After all, he had ex-player and current French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo as his coach for a brief period in his career. He is supportive of the WTA players including Mirra Andreeva in recent years.

Murray has been a great advocate for the WTA so it would seem appropriate for him to coach a woman.