- West Ham monitor Max Aarons after underwhelming Rangers loan spell ends without permanent move.
- Right-back started early under Danny Rohl but lost place after December and never regained it.
- Rangers opt against signing Aarons permanently, shifting focus to longer-term recruitment strategy.
West Ham are reportedly showing interest in former Rangers loanee Max Aarons as the Bournemouth full-back prepares to return to the south coast this summer following an underwhelming spell at Ibrox.
According to Sports Boom, the Hammers are monitoring Aarons ahead of the transfer window, with the 26-year-old expected to leave Bournemouth again after falling out of favour both on the south coast and in Glasgow.
He is also linked with moves to Wolves and La Liga side Villarreal.
Max Aarons time at Ibrox
Aarons arrived at Rangers with significant pedigree and initially looked capable of becoming a major part of Danny Rohl’s rebuild after the sacking of Russell Martin in October.
He started five of the German’s opening nine Premiership matches after the managerial change.
He looked to have nailed down a regular place and publicly praised the direction Rangers were heading under the new boss.
“I’m really, really excited by this manager and what he’s brought,” Aarons said earlier in the season.
“The intensity that we’re bringing now, both with the ball and without the ball, is good.
“He’s come in and laid out how he wants to play and perform.
“There are bits in there that, from the past when I’ve been part of teams that push in the right direction, all of those things are there to see.”
Permanent move dreams quashed
The defender also spoke openly in December about wanting to remain at Ibrox beyond the end of his loan.
“Yeah, for sure,” Aarons said when asked about a permanent move.
“Playing for this club and playing at Ibrox are amazing experiences.
“It’s where you want to be playing as a player.
“Since the new manager has come in, it’s been great.”
However, Aarons’ Rangers career stalled rapidly after the December defeat to Hearts.
Despite James Tavernier’s emotional exit later in the season opening up uncertainty at right-back heading into the summer, Aarons never started another Premiership game.
His involvement became increasingly limited as Rohl turned elsewhere, ultimately ending any realistic possibility of Rangers activating a permanent deal.
That leaves Aarons returning to Bournemouth with his future unresolved once again.
Max Aarons West Ham hopes
A move to West Ham could now offer the defender a route back into English football.
However, much may depend on the Hammers’ league status as they face relegation to the Championship ahead of the final day of the English top tier.
Aarons increasingly looks like another short-term loan that failed to translate into a long-term solution despite early optimism surrounding both the player and Rohl’s system at Rangers.
Rangers to trim loanee quota for new season
Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh has already indicated the club are preparing to reduce their dependence on short-term loan recruitment after last summer’s aggressive approach in the market.
“We also made a decision last summer to bring in a relatively large number of loan players,” Cavenagh explained.
“I think you’re allowed six and we had six.”
However, while players such as Aarons and Andreas Skov Olsen arrived with pedigree and short-term upside.
Neither ultimately established themselves as long-term solutions.
Cavenagh admitted the club were conscious of the risks attached to permanent recruitment during the early stages of the rebuild.
“There is merit to that thought process because once you sign a player you have them for three or four years,” he said.
“You need to be a little careful with it.
“From the start we said this will take us two or three summer windows to get the right team.”
Readrangers.com analysis – Jack Cranmer
Despite early promise of a rejuvenation following Rohl’s replacing of Martin.
The Bournemouth loanee faded out of the picture entirely after December and Rangers have ultimately decided against pursuing a permanent move.
Cavenagh also strongly hinted that the overall profile of Rangers’ recruitment strategy is now set to evolve.
“I don’t regret the concept of bringing in some loan players and I think you’ll see that tick down this summer,” he said.
“We will always have loan players because there is good value. Whether the sporting value or future flexibility.”
That shift points towards Rangers prioritising greater squad stability moving forward.
With permanent signings increasingly expected to form the core of Rohl’s rebuild rather than another cycle built heavily around temporary additions.
