Recent Middlesbrough and Stoke City transfer interest in in-demand Rangers player revealed | OneFootball

Middlesbrough and Stoke City have shown an interest in Joe Rothwell, with the midfielder expected to leave Rangers in January.

Middlesbrough and Stoke City have recently shown an interest in Rangers midfielder Joe Rothwell, who is set to leave Ibrox in the January transfer window.

The 30-year-old only joined the Glasgow outfit in the summer, but he has had a turbulent start to life in Scotland, with Russell Martin, the man who brought him to the club, having already lost his job.

Rangers appointed Danny Rohl as his successor, and Rothwell quickly dropped down the pecking order under the ex-Sheffield Wednesday chief.

Joe Rothwell set for Rangers departure as Championship interest builds

Therefore, with Rothwell not in Rohl’s plans moving forward, it seems inevitable that he will leave in the New Year, and reports have already claimed that Sheffield United and Derby County are tracking the former Leeds United man.

However, it appears they may face competition from fellow Championship teams for the player, as the Rangers Review has revealed that Boro and Stoke have had Rothwell on their radar in the not-so distant past, with their keenness coming in the summer window.

It remains to be seen whether they formalise that interest in the midfielder with a January bid, but the update explains that Rangers will be hopeful of an auction as they try to raise funds for the new boss, who is targeting a central midfielder to replace Rothwell in the window.

Joe Rothwell would be a shrewd signing for most Championship sides

It’s surprising that Rothwell has struggled so much at Rangers, as he is a technically good footballer, and, given their general dominance over most teams domestically, you would have expected him to become a key player very quickly.

But, he hasn’t impressed with the opportunities he has been given, and, for whatever reason, he is not someone that Rohl wants in the squad moving forward.

With that in mind, a move makes sense for all parties, and it’s easy to see why there is so much interest in Rothwell from the Championship, because he has proven himself at this level over the years.

From his time with Blackburn, to winning promotions with Southampton and most recently Leeds, Rothwell is a capable player in the second tier, and he will have a point to prove after his struggles with Rangers.

If he is available for a reasonable fee, you would expect a whole host of Championship clubs to make a move, and there’s no doubt that Rothwell would improve the squads of the four clubs that have been linked.