Rangers hold an £800,000 option to buy on-loan defender James Penrice from AEK Athens following an initial £400,000 loan agreement.
The 27-year-old left-back featured in an unfamiliar hybrid midfield role during the 3-0 Premier Sports Cup quarter-final victory over Celtic at Ibrox Stadium. Manager Derek McInnes shifted his tactical approach to cover the absence of injured defender Tuur Rommens.
Midfield Shift Offers Tactical Flexibility
Penrice arrived from Greece in August to compete for a starting defensive berth. However, his seamless transition into central areas provides vital insurance against future market movements while restoring winning standards across the squad.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Penrice addressed his immediate focus following Rommens’ injury issue. “Tuur is obviously injured but I’m coming in to play,” he said. “I want to keep performing, I want to make the jersey my own and hopefully I can do that.”
The defender acknowledged the permanent clause, which Ibrox News described as a “ridiculously low fee” for the club. “Staying here long-term is a conversation for the future but there’s obviously an option in the deal, everyone knows that,” Penrice added.
He stated his intention to focus on immediate fixtures rather than future contract discussions. “I’ve only been in a few days so let me enjoy this one and then in a couple of months we can sort that,” he added.
This positional adaptability provides crucial squad depth ahead of the Scottish Premiership return.
Rangers travel to face Celtic in the league on Sunday 20 September.
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