James Tavernier has made it clear to Sky Sports News that he is keeping all options open regarding a fresh contract with Rangers, insisting he will "never shut the door" on the possibility. The 34‑year‑old captain, whose current deal expires at the close of the season, says his immediate priority is helping the Glasgow side secure a second Scottish Premiership crown since he arrived in 2015. Rangers sit just one point behind league leaders Hearts, with Celtic trailing another two points and only five fixtures remaining. The title race is therefore hanging in the balance, and Tavernier wants to stay fully focused on the task at hand.
When asked about his future, the veteran defender replied, "I'm taking it day by day. My wife was asking me about the holiday, and I said that's too far ahead for me to think about." He added that he does not like to plan too far in advance, preferring instead to concentrate on the present week, his training schedule, and his children's commitments.
"It's a hectic life I live, so that's something that will be communicated probably further down the line," he said. He continued, "It's obviously something that I've been here for a long time, and it's something that I'll never shut the door on. But I've obviously got to wait and see what happens." In other words, while he remains open to extending his stay at Ibrox, the captain is not allowing contract speculation to distract him from the fight for silverware.
Rangers have relied heavily on Tavernier's leadership this season, even though he has started only 23 of the club's 33 league matches so far. Head coach Danny Röhl has rotated the squad in an effort to keep players fresh and to find the right balance that can deliver the title. Tavernier admitted that it is frustrating not to be on the pitch every week, insisting that his body "isn't slowing up one bit," but he is prepared to support his teammates from the sidelines if required. "If I'm asked to be on the sidelines, I'm going to support the boys no matter what, and put my input in the team, and just be myself," he said.
"All I can do is, when given the moment, or when I start, is give it my absolute best for the team." The season got off to a shaky start for Rangers, with just a single league victory before the dismissal of former manager Russell Martin in October. When Danny Röhl took over, the club were languishing in sixth place, some 13 points adrift of leaders Hearts. Under Röhl's guidance, however, the team have surged back into contention, and Opta's statistical model now lists them as favourites to lift the trophy.
Tavernier emphasized the collective mindset that has driven this turnaround. "It's in our hands, and we only can constrain ourselves and our aim is obviously to win every single game until now to the end of the season," he explained. He likened each match to a cup final, a philosophy the squad has embraced from the outset.
"We always say every game is a cup final from the start of the season, which it is, but these games are the exact same." He praised the recent performances, noting that the team's results over the past few months have given the manager a "big headache" when it comes to team selection, a sign of the depth and quality now available. "The belief is in the squad.
I think you've seen it over the past couple of months, the results that we've put in, the performances that we've been putting in, and obviously we've been giving the gaffer a big headache on team selection, so we're in a great place," Tavernier said. Maintaining humility and drive, according to the captain, remains crucial as the final stretch approaches. "We've obviously got to stay humble and be really driven, which I know we are, but we've just got to keep on pushing each other and applying ourselves to the maximum from training and in games," he added.
Beyond the immediate title chase, Tavernier's comments hint at a broader narrative for Rangers. The club have shown resilience, rebounding from a poor start to become serious contenders, and the captain's willingness to keep the door open on a new contract signals his desire to be part of any future success.
Whether he signs a fresh deal or eventually moves on, his focus now is unequivocal: give everything for Rangers in every remaining fixture and help the team clinch the championship. As the season draws to a close, fans can expect Tavernier to continue leading by example, both on and off the pitch, while the club's management weighs the options for his future.
The final five games will decide whether the Ibrox side can overtake Hearts, keep Celtic at bay, and lift the Scottish Premiership trophy once more.