Rangers skipper James Tavernier is better than Manchester United's right-back and good enough to play in the top level English Premier League sides, according to Jim Duffy.
The 63-year-old admits to being 'absolutely baffled' that no major club from south of the border has tried to prize away the Ibrox captain. His numbers in terms of goals and assists speaks volumes and the former Dumbarton and Ayr United boss said the full-back's development as a player and captain is 'nothing short of immense'.
The 30-year-old finished last season as the Europa League top goal scorer and was a major factor behind Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men reaching the final in Seville. He went on to lift the Scottish Cup after victory over Hearts and helped the club end Celtic's bid to win ten-in-a-row the season before.
Tavernier's consistency and numbers stand out for Duffy and he just can't quite understand why nobody has taken a punt on the right-back.
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He told Clyde Superscoreboard: “Funnily enough, you read my thoughts on James Tavernier when it was mentioned about the clubs in for Juranovic. I am absolutely baffled that no major English Premiership club has tried to buy James Tavernier with his quality and his consistency at the top level over the last two and a half years.
“He struggled to win the Rangers fans over a bit to start with because they hadn’t won anything but the last couple of years his development as a player and captain has been nothing short of immense. His stats are different level.
"He’s a modern day full back with his delivery. Defensively he’s better as well and he’s an all round terrific player."
He added: There are very consistent players but when you’re in the spot light as much as the Rangers captain you have to produce and any dip at all is exaggerated so all credit to him. I think he’s been absolutely outstanding for Rangers and I’m baffled why somebody hasn’t come in.
“When you see the amounts of money being thrown about down south for a lot less talented players than him, it complete confuses me.”
Fellow pundit Marvin Bartley was in full agreement and suggested that being settled in Glasgow and playing for a huge club in Rangers could be factors that would make him not want to leave. He believes only a top six side would even make Tavernier consider a switch from the Scottish Premiership.
But Duffy insists he would have no issues breaking into those sides as he pointed to Manchester United's situation.
He added: “I think he’s good enough for the top six. I look at Manchester United and who they have at right back.
"He’s better than their right back. At that kind of level I have no doubts whether it be Arsenal, Manchester United or any of them I think he’s good enough to go play in the top half of the Premier League.
“He may well be happy and stuff but normally you’d know if someone came in with a bid and if Rangers turned it down then fine, but certainly from the media aspect there doesn’t seem to have been a concrete bid for him. The top clubs use money ball system so those stats you mention makes me even more baffled.
"If you're looking for a right back you're looking for those numbers. They might look for younger players but he's as good as anybody."
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