Alan Shearer has described Steven Gerrard’s potential switch to Rangers as a “no-brainer” amid wide reports, but only if he receives financial backing from the Ibrox board.
The Daily Record reports that the Gers are closing in on appointing the 37-year-old their new manager ahead of next season to replace Graeme Murty.
It is understood that director of football Mark Allen is confident a deal will be wrapped up soon after “very positive” talks were held with him.
Gerrard is a Liverpool icon from his playing career and is currently in charge of the Merseyside club’s Under-18s side.
He is now being tipped to make the step up into senior management and BBC pundit Shearer feels that a move to Scotland to link up with Rangers appears to be a good fit.
“He’ll (Gerrard) be able to attract bigger players because of who he is and what he brings to the football club,” Shearer said, as quoted BBC Sport.
“Wherever he goes, people will follow because he’s such a huge name.
“It’s a big if because there are no guarantees but if everything is put in place and he is promised funds – and I’m pretty sure if he accepts they would have to deliver what they have promised to him – I think it’s a no-brainer for him.
“If he were to take another job, for argument’s sake in the Championship, it’s a very, very tough league. He’s got to then also get up to the Premier League and there’s 12 or 13 teams can do that.”
OPINION
Shearer feels that Rangers can be a good springboard for Gerrard into management, but if he does take the position at Ibrox all eyes will be on him to succeed. The Gers are striving to compete with Old Firm rivals Celtic on all fronts, but the gap between the two was highlighted at the weekend. They were demolished away 5-0 at Parkhead and that handed Celtic a seventh consecutive league crown on Sunday. Rangers need a huge overhaul in the summer months to help improve and Gerrard’s influence at the core of that could be very exciting. However, it would certainly be a risk for the Scottish giants and his potential arrival is already splitting the opinion of supporters.