Rangers have reportedly reignited their interest in left fullback James Penrice, as noted in a recent report by The Herald. After failing to secure a loan agreement with AEK Athens earlier this year, the team is looking to take another shot, especially with Jayden Meghoma expected to return to Brentford by the end of the month.
The 27-year-old Scottish player hails from Livingston and ascended through the ranks of Partick Thistle’s academy before joining their senior squad. During loan spells with East Fife and Livingston, he established himself as a regular for the Glasgow club in both the Championship and League One.
Penrice made a return to Livingston in the summer of 2021 after his contract with Partick Thistle ended. Over the following three seasons, he was a consistent presence in the top flight. He later joined Hearts on a Bosman deal following Livingston’s relegation in 2024. Despite a lackluster campaign from the Jambos, Penrice contributed significantly, making 46 appearances during the 2024-25 season.
Participating in Derek McInnes’ pre-season camp in Spain, Penrice was sold to AEK Athens after Hearts accepted a £2 million bid last year. Although he missed out on the Jamtarts’ memorable Premiership run, joining the Greek outfit has been fruitful, as he has played in 32 games across all competitions, contributing to their Super League success.
How Rangers Dealt With The Transfer Blow In January
In January, Rangers pursued Penrice but ultimately turned to Tuur Rommens after facing a rejection from AEK Athens. Rommens has shown impressive form since breaking into the starting XI, with his dynamic play and strong work ethic making him a preferred option over Meghoma.
In addition to Meghoma, Danny Rohl sometimes used Max Aarons as a makeshift left-back. However, both players are likely to return to their parent clubs, Brentford and Bournemouth, respectively, after unsuccessful loan spells. With veteran James Tavernier set to depart, the need for reinforcements in the full-back positions becomes critical.
Why Rangers Should Bring Penrice
While it’s uncertain who will come in to provide competition for Dujon Sterling on the right, bringing in Penrice could resolve issues on the left flank. His addition would enhance the homegrown player quota for next season’s European competitions and strengthen the team’s title ambitions following recent setbacks in key fixtures.
Penrice will need to compete for his place against Rommens, similar to his current situation in Athens, where Stavros Pilios has played more often. Nonetheless, his crossing ability, set-piece skills, vision, robust tackling, and fierce defensive play should elevate the squad ahead of next season.