Middlesbrough and Stoke City have lately expressed an interest in Rangers midfielder Joe Rothwell, who is expected to leave Ibrox during the January transfer window.

The 30-year-old only joined the Glasgow club in the summer, but he has had a difficult start to life in Scotland, with Russell Martin, the man who brought him in, having already lost his job.

Rangers hired Danny Rohl as his successor, and Rothwell swiftly fell down the pecking order under the former Sheffield Wednesday manager.

Joe Rothwell is set to leave the Rangers as Championship interest increases.

As a result, with Rothwell not in Rohl’s plans for the future, it appears likely that he will move in the New Year, with Sheffield United and Derby County reportedly interested in the former Leeds United player.

However, it appears that they will face competition from other Championship clubs for the youngster, as the Rangers Review has discovered that Boro and Stoke have had Rothwell on their radar in the not-too-distant past, with their interest peaking in the summer window.

It remains to be seen whether they formalise their interest in the midfielder with a January bid, but according to the update, Rangers will be hoping for an auction to raise funds for the new manager, who is looking for a central midfielder to replace Rothwell in the next window.

Joe Rothwell would be a savvy signing for most Championship clubs.

Rothwell’s struggles at Rangers are surprising given his technical ability, and given their general domination over most domestic clubs, you would have expected him to emerge as a vital player fast.

But he hasn’t impressed with the opportunities he’s been given, and for whatever reason, Rohl does not want him in the squad going ahead.

With that in mind, a move makes sense for all sides, and it’s easy to see why Rothwell is attracting so much interest from the Championship, given his track record at this level.

Rothwell is a capable second-tier player who has won promotions with Blackburn, Southampton, and most recently Leeds, and he will be looking to show himself after his problems with Rangers.

If he is available for a reasonable amount, you can anticipate a slew of Championship clubs to make a move, and Rothwell would undoubtedly improve the rosters of the four clubs involved.

So, things might move swiftly in the new year, and it’ll be interesting to watch where Rothwell ends up.