Rangers have been handed a huge boost in their hopes of keeping Joe Worrall at the club this month as Nottingham Forest desperately seek a way to end his loan spell at Ibrox, according to the Nottingham Post.
The newspaper claim on their website that the centre back’s 15 starts in 17 appearances this season has triggered a clause to keep the 22-year-old contracted to the Gers until the end of the season, having signed a season-long loan deal in Glasgow.
It is stated that Forest are wanting to secure his return to the City Ground this month in the midst of an injury crisis but the clause means that the only way he will return is if Rangers green light his departure.
Opinion
What a stroke of genius this clause could be for Steven Gerrard, and it could well explain why he has been favoured over other defenders at times this season. Worrall has had a hit and miss campaign with some stellar performances intertwined with some bang average displays, but there is no doubting that the Gers would be worse off without him. He is a competent performer at the heart of the defence and would be a big loss were he to be recalled by Forest – something which they are evidently exploring this month. Having handed him 15 starts already, he looks to be Gerrard’s until the end of the season and credit to the manager and his transfer team for getting such a clause included in his loan agreement. It was obviously meant to benefit both sides, with Rangers able to judge his ability in the first couple of games and Forest able to take him back if he was not playing regularly enough for their liking, but it has ended up working in favour of the Ibrox outfit. Is Gerrard going to sanction his exit? Unless Forest have an amazing offer up their sleeve, it is not likely.