Shanghai Port 'drive hard bargain' with Rangers over Kevin Muscat compensation as insider teases exit

A seven-figure agreement is being discussed to allow Muscat to walk out of his contract that runs until 2026

Shanghai Port will demand mega money to allow Kevin Muscat TO leave for Rangers.

That is according to Hugh Keevins - who branded the Glasgow giants "desperate" amid their ongoing search for a replacement for axed boss Russell Martin.

Record Sport revealed Muscat has broadly agreed a deal to replace Russell Martin while in the midst of a three-way battle for the Super League crown.

However, the final details on a seven-figure compensation package for the manager - who has a contract with the Chinese champions until December 2026 - are still to be finalised before an official announcement.

Muscat was in the dugout for Port's dramatic 4-3 win over Qingdao on Friday morning that took the club a step closer to defending their crown.

But Andrew Cavenagh and the Rangers board appear content to wait until the Chinese Super League season concludes comes to an end on November 22 to get him in the door - and the Australian has hinted he is in no rush to leave his current side.

And Keevins detects there could still be a potential roadblock before the official announcement from Rangers.

He told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard: “If I was Shanghai Port, I would be driving a hard bargain, because Kevin Muscat still has another year on his contract and he is probably going to be a title winner.

"So, I would be looking for was much compensation as I could get my hands on, knowing Rangers are absolutely desperate to get this done.”

It was a battle for Port against struggling Qingdao and Chinese football pundit Chen Hua has suggested Muscat will struggle to keep the trophy in Shanghai with a similar display.

Chengdu Rongcheng and Shanghai Shenua are just two and three points respectively behind the table-toppers.

And Hua - with a nod to the looming move to Rangers - said to Tencent: "Congratulations to Muscat and Shanghai. There are two key battles ahead, away against Shandong Taishan and at home against Zhejiang FC.

"Based on the tactical design and defensive quality of this match, they will not be able to make it through the next two games.

"It depends on how the team adjusts and summarises. Muscat must also hope to bring a championship to the Scottish Premier League, right?"

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