Gerrard also confirms new deals for Allan McGregor and Steven Davis; wants to sign Jermain Defoe at end of season
Wednesday 11 December 2019 14:58, UK
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard says he is close to signing a new contract at the club.
The former Liverpool captain has been at Ibrox since 2018, finishing second behind Celtic in his first season.
His side are currently two points behind the reigning champions this season, which has prompted the board to tie Gerrard down to a deal until 2024.
Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson and managing director Stewart Robertson have moved quickly to seal Gerrard's future at Ibrox.
"The club approached me probably a week, 10 days ago about a new deal and it's a pretty simple decision as far as I'm concerned," said Gerrard.
"I'm happy here and I'm as hungry and determined to get the good days back here as I ever was so talks have been pretty straightforward and positive.
"When it's signed and announced you'll have to wait and see."
Gerrard also confirmed that Allan McGregor and Steven Davis have agreed new deals with the club.
Both players' contracts were due to expire at the end of the season but it is now confirmed that the duo will stay at the club for another season.
"Allan McGregor and Steven Davis's [new contracts] are imminent. That'll be very close and will probably be announced after tomorrow's game. But that's all agreed. They're two players I want around for a year's extension on top of this year."
Gerrard also expressed his interest at signing on-loan Bournemouth striker Jermain Defoe on a permanent basis.
Defoe made the move from the Premier League to Rangers on an 18-month loan deal in January, with the former England striker now in the last six months of his contract.
Gerrard said: "Jermain's is a bit different because he's a Bournemouth player until the end of the season but it's a similar situation in the fact that we want him to stay around. We'll obviously deal with that as and when we need to."
If Rangers beat Young Boys on Thursday will seal qualification from Group G into the knockout stages as they top the group over Porto, the Swiss club and Feyenoord.
And Gerrard says that topping the group ahead of some European heavyweights would be testament to how far they've come under his leadership.
"Knowing these players and being around them for the 18 months, the majority of them, normally after a setback they respond in the right way," he said.
"I think they're a good humble bunch who are desperate to take this club where it wants to be. Tomorrow's a fantastic opportunity to swing the whole mood of the football club.
"I'm told, but you'll have to check the facts, but I don't think that a Rangers team's ever topped a four-team group.
"If you think about where it was at when we walked in the door, if we are to get the win tomorrow and top the group and "go in Europe past Christmas, that's a big achievement for the group and also for the club for many obvious reasons."
