Steven Gerrard has launched a move to team up with Rangers skipper James Tavernier in next season’s Saudi Pro League.
And the former Ibrox boss is also believed to be closely monitoring the situation of Connor Goldson as he mulls over a potential double swoop on his old club this summer. Record Sport revealed speculation linking Tavernier with his former boss - which stretches back almost 12 months to Gerrard’s shock appointment at Al-Ettifaq - has been building again in recent weeks.
On Wednesday multiple outlets across the Persian Gulf state began reporting that a deal for the 32-year-old could be thrashed out after Scotland’s domestic campaign reaches a thrilling climax when the Old Firm go head-to-head at Hampden in the Scottish Cup Final on May 25. While Goldson’s name was not mentioned in those initial reports, it’s understood Gerrard is keen on being reunited with the man he lured north from Brighton six years ago to form a title winning partnership with Tavernier on the right hand side of his Rangers back four.
And the Scouser could yet talk his club’s wealthy owners into tabling an offer for the 31-year-old central defender now that they have agreed to press ahead with a bid for Tavernier. Riyadh based media outlet Slaati revealed that a "recommendation" to target Tavernier has been made to the club’s top brass by Gerrard. It went on to state that Al-Ettifaq’s cash rich bosses have ‘agreed’ to formalise an offer despite Gerrard getting off to an inauspicious first season in Saudi.
With the club languishing in seventh place in the table - despite a string of high profile signings - Gerrard is hatching plans for another major rebuild. And, having already stumped up to give the former Liverpool star a bumper contract extension until 2027, it seems they are prepared to give financial backing to his latest plan for the next raft of new arrivals.
Both Tavernier and Goldson have two years still to run on their Rangers contracts and are among the top five earners in Philippe Clement’s squad. It’s believed the Belgian boss could free up around £70,000-a-week in wages ahead of his own dealings in the summer transfer market by agreeing to let them cash in on the interest from the Middle East.
But the players would stand to make a comparative fortune in the oil rich state and Gerrard has previously been showered with enough resources to recruit the likes of Gini Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson, Demarai Gray, Jack Hendry and Moussa Dembele.
