Surprise move.
Steven Gerrard has only been a manager for a few months, but he looks set to make his 16th new addition to the Rangers squad as Jermain Defoe looks to be on his Glasgow.
According to Sky Sports, the former England and Tottenham striker is set to sign an 18-month loan deal with Gerrard’s team.
Defoe, one of the most prolific England strikers of his generation, is free to leave Bournemouth and Rangers looks to be his likeliest destination.
BREAKING: Sky sources: @afcbournemouth agree 18-month loan deal for Jermain Defoe to join @RangersFC. #SSN pic.twitter.com/BBG9AtexWz
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 3, 2019
The 36-year-old striker joined Bournemouth from Sunderland on a free transfer in 2017. However, he has made just 28 appearances for the Premier League side, scoring four goals.
Defoe has scored 162 goals in the Premier League, the seventh-most of any player in the division.
Gerrard and Defoe played alongside each other for England.
Steven Davis is also likely to sign for the Scottish club over the next few days. The Northern Ireland captain turned 34 on January 1 and appears to be surplus to requirements at Southampton.
Davis has made just six appearances for the Saints this season. Following the goalless draw with Chelsea on Wednesday night, new Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl said that there was a “possibility” the midfielder could return to Rangers.
“There we find a good solution where we have a win-win situation for both sides,” he told reporters. “He has done a lot for this club. The fact is he has half-a-year contract here until the summer, so what we want to give him is a chance to make the next step.”
Davis joined Southampton from Rangers in 2012 and has made 226 appearances for the club, scoring 14 goals. Between 2008 and 2012, the midfielder played 210 times for Rangers. According to the Times, Davis will earn around £12,000-a-week at Ibrox and he will sign an 18-month deal.
Gerrard is also reportedly seeking to sign Charlie Adam, another former Rangers midfielder. Adam is out of favour at Stoke City and free to leave the club during the January transfer window.
Since taking charge at Ibrox, Gerrard has signed 10 players on permanent deals and secured five loan deals. Despite landing almost a completely new squad, it seems like the former Liverpool captain still isn’t finished in the transfer market.
If the moves for these three players are completed, the former Liverpool captain will have signed 19 new players for the club.
Rangers are currently level on points with Celtic at the top of Scottish top-flight. Celtic have a game in hand over Gerrard’s side.
