OPINION
Nottingham Forest manager Aitor Karanka has revealed that he would consider sending Joe Worrall out on loan before the end of the month – and the defender would be the perfect signing for Rangers as it looks more likely that the club will reach the Europa League group stages.
As the Light Blues are bound to be playing a lot of football this season, it would be wise for Steven Gerrard to add as much depth to his side as possible to help him rotate his options and keep things fresh.
In the opening two Scottish Premiership games, it has also become clear that the Light Blues are struggling with discipline with both Alfredo Morelos and Ross McCrorie picking up red cards.
Worrall, 21, is a class young centre-back, who is simply not getting the chances he deserves at Nottingham Forest.
Danny Fox, Tobias Figueiredo, Michael Dawson and Michael Hefele all appear to be above him in the pecking order, even though he was the subject of a rejected £10million bid from Burnley in January of this year, according to the Nottingham Post.
And now, Karanka has admitted that a loan spell away from Forest would be beneficial to the England Under-21 international if he would get more opportunities to play.
“If Joe wants to go and it is the right place for him to play and all of us agree that it is the right thing for everyone – I would understand that,” he said, as quoted by the Nottingham Post. “But if he is going to a place and he is not going to play, he would learn more here by staying here and being around Dawson, Fox, Hefele and Tobias.”
Worrall made 35 appearances in all competitions for Forest last season and particularly stood out when former Rangers boss Mark Warburton was in the hot seat at the City Ground.
Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic have settled in well at Ibrox but as the season goes on, Gerrard is bound to have to give them a rest and with injuries and suspensions likely to stack up, they could do with the extra body in defence.
Karanka would be concerned about game-time for Worrall, but playing every now and then in a top-flight league under immense pressure, fighting for silverware and playing in Europe is bound to be more beneficial than being stuck in the reserves.
It would be a solid signing for Gerrard and Mark Allen to go after the Forest defender, and they must try and make a loan move before the end of this month.