The Chinese Super League leaders are facing the prospect of losing their boss to the Glasgow giants
(Image: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
Shanghai Port are preparing for life without Kevin Muscat after he emerged as the favourite to be the next Rangers manager.
Title-winning boss Steven Gerrard pulled out of the running last weekend sparked a major rethink for the US owners.
Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl emerging as the favourite for the job after impressing Andrew Cavenagh and Paarag Marathe of 49ers Enterprises during talks in London.
But Muscat – who lost out on the job to Philippe Clement in 2023 – is back on the Ibrox agenda despite being in the midst of a title tilt in China.
The Super League season will run until November 22 – with Shanghai currently sitting in top spot as they look to defend their crown.
Muscat’s Port currently sit ahead of Chengdu Rongcheng and Shanghai Shenhua by two and three points respectively with four games remaining.
The earliest the title could be wrapped up is October 26 if their title rivals collapse – but it would require a collapse from their title rivals.
Muscat is four league fixtures away from glory with Qingdao Hainiu, Shandong Taishan, Zhejiang, and Dalian Zhixing standing between the boss and back-to-back league titles.
Neil McCann was part of Barry Ferguson’s interim management team last season – and had been earmarked by Muscat two years ago as a potential assistant and could step into the job on an interim basis until the former Ibrox midfielder finishes the season in the Far East.
Neil McCann during Rangers training session
Chinese outlet Tencent claim that the Shanghai chiefs are preparing a “contingency plan” should Muscat leave the club at the end of the campaign.
However, it is unlikely the boss will come cheap with the report claiming that after winning the title last term Muscats contract “auto renewed” with a “championship clause”.
That the Australian has a deal at Port until December 2026 on a deal that currently sees him earn between £1.6million and £2million.
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