Record Sport understands McKenna is not on Celtic’s radar and that could clear the path for a move to Rangers.
Rangers won’t face a transfer battle with Celtic if they press ahead with a January move for Scott McKenna.
Reports from down south on Friday claimed the Old Firm rivals are fighting it out for McKenna’s signature as the Scotland international prepared to leave Nottingham Forest before the end of the month. But Record Sport can reveal Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has not placed the name of the former Aberdeen stopper on his list of defensive targets. And that could clear the way for Ibrox counterpart Philippe Clement to land McKenna for a bargain basement price.
It’s understood the 27-year-old would be available to join on loan until the end of the season with the option of signing permanently as a free agent in the summer. McKenna was once targeted by Rodgers during the Northern Irishman’s first term in charge at Parkhead but Celtic baulked at Aberdeen’s £3.5m price tag. He eventually moved to Forest in 2020 for what the Pittodrie club described at the time as a ‘record fee’ which had the potential to rise to as much as £6m. And he played a key role in the club’s promotion back into the Premier League. But it’s understood he has been frozen out of Forest’s first team squad over an ongoing contractual dispute and has not featured in the team since a 1-1 draw with Burnley at the end of September.
The arrival of Nuno Espirito Santo has not changed the club’s position with McKenna playing no part in the new manager’s first three squads, since the sacking of former boss Steve Cooper. And the defender is now desperate to bring his time at the City Ground to an end in order to keep his place secure in Steve Clarke’s travelling party for Euro 2024 this summer.
A move to Rangers might safeguard his seat on the plane but with Clement currently prioritising more attacking options in the transfer market it remains to be seen if the Belgian will offer him that opportunity. Turkish clubs Fenerbahce and Trabzonspor are also believed to be monitoring the situation.
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