OPINION
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has wasted no time in bolstering his newly-inherited defence this summer, and having already welcomed Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic to the side, he is reportedly not willing to stop there.
According to the Daily Mail, Gerrard has made Millwall defender Jake Cooper his top target to replace Bruno Alves at Ibrox and has tabled a bid worth £3million for the 23-year-old centre-back.
It is understood that the Gers have moved closer to triggering a release clause in Cooper’s contract the Championship club, as it looks increasingly likely that the Govan club is about splash more cash on their back-line.
Cooper was in fine form for Millwall last season, appearing as a mainstay for the London club as they reached above and beyond expectations in the Championship, even launching a late bid for a spot in the play-offs.
The 6ft 5 defender would clearly walk straight into Gerrard’s starting line-up at Ibrox, and that surely leaves Katic under immense pressure to impress Gerrard before the upcoming season starts.
Goldson is more than likely going to be the number one choice centre-back for Gerrard next season having swapped Brighton for the Light Blues last month.
Katic, who according to the Scottish Sun was snapped up for £2million from Slaven Belupo, will more than likely drop down the pecking order if Cooper was to arrive.
Gerrard demonstrated against Bury that he may just be using a traditional back-four, which means that someone like Katic will have to make way for transfer target Cooper. Also if Gerrard wanted to change to a back-three, Ross McCrorie could be brought in to the centre of that to play a more ball-playing role.
The Rangers manager has also shown that he wants more domestic talent in his squad, so that could also put Cooper ahead of Katic in his estimations.
It’s not an ideal situation for the Croatian centre-back, however it is definitely one that he should expect at a club like the Gers.
Hopefully it will make him up his game even more and proves us wrong but one thing’s for sure, it’s a good problem for Gerrard to have.