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Rangers transfer news: Nottingham Forest open to Joe Worrall loan, Celtic also keen
RANGERS and Celtic are set to battle it out for Nottingham Forest defender Joe Worrall.
Steven Gerrard states Joe Worrall is a 'fantastic player'
Both Glasgow clubs are interested in landing Worrall, 21, before the Scottish transfer window closes on August 31.
Rangers are said to have edged ahead in the race to land the 6ft 4in defender who came up through the Forest youth system.
But Celtic have the financial clout to match any offer even though they have missed out on Champions League football for this season.
Yet it may be a loan deal that comes to fruition before next Friday’s deadline.
That is according to Nottinghamshire Live, who claim Worrall may well be available.
According to the report, Forest manager Aitor Karanka would be open to sending Worrall out on loan.
That is despite the fact Forest rejected a £10m bid from Derby for the defender just eight months ago.
Worrall has found himself down the pecking order at the City Ground, with Michael Dawson, Danny Fox, Tobias Figueiredo and Michael Hefele all preferred.
Hefele joined from Huddersfield Town before the English transfer window closed on August 9.
And Worrall may therefore look to move away from Forest, with Scotland or elsewhere on the continent his only realistic options.
Celtic themselves are understood to be chasing Aberdeen’s centre-back Scott McKenna and Jeffrey Bruma from Wolfsburg.
But a loan move for Worrall may prove easier to orchestrate.
As for Rangers, manager Steven Gerrard was asked about the England U21 international in his press conference today.
"I won’t be mentioning any names. Worrall is a fantastic player – I’ve been following him for many years with England. He’s a really good player but I don’t think I have to add to that any more,” Gerrard said.
"But yes we are looking for a centre-back."