02-07-2025
David Brooks drops major Rangers transfer clue as response to Russell Martin 'career contract' quip leaves little doubt
Brooks played for Martin at Southampton and admitted he's willing to follow Martin wherever he goes in the game
David Brooks left the door wide open for Russell Martin to come back and sign him during their time together at Southampton.
And the Rangers boss may have the chance to step through it with a proposed switch to West Brom seemingly off.
The Bournemouth midfielder - who beat a devastating diagnosis of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2022 to return to playing - worked under Martin at St Mary's after joining the club on loan from the Cherries for six months in January 2024.
Martin was taken with the Wales international, and didn't play it cool whatsoever when asked if he would like to make the move a permanent one.
"If I had the opportunity I'd sign Brooksy to a contract that he has to stay with me until he retires," he said. But that's not an option. There's no option at all at the moment.
"I'm really enjoying working with him as a player and as a person. He's fantastic.
"He's even better than I thought he was and I had a really high opinion of him in the first place."
And Brooks' response suggests that working with Martin again would certainly appeal. He said: "If he wants to, I'm open to it!
"His style of play and the way he is as a guy, I think he's an extremely good manager and he's going to do great things.
"If he wants to take me wherever he ends up, then he can do."
Brooks underwent a medical with West Brom over the weekend, but reports now claim that the deal is off.
Brooks is in the final year of his contract with Bournemouth and is likely to leave this summer. Martin has already raided the south coast club twice this summer to sign Max Aarons and Joe Rothwell.
Now with Brooks available and in need of an alternative to the Hawthorns, he's already admitted he'd need little persuading if Martin was to come calling.
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