Brilliant Gerrard has Gers flying... Arsenal & co are missing

the club and they tell you his work has been transformative, inspirational even.

And you should not be surprised. He is an inspirational figure.

No wonder there is a new deal on the table for him at Rangers, a contract that would, in theory, extend his stay until 2024.

Honourable, loyal sort that he is, Gerrard will almost certainly stay for another four years if he puts pen to paper.

However, it is hard to believe – in these days of managerial churn at the top level in England – that a Premier League club will not come in for him.

Watford should have tested him out, but have, instead, gone for Nigel Pearson, whose graft at Leicester City laid the foundations for their remarkable Premier League success, but whose subsequent work at Derby County and Belgian club OH Leuven has been less than impressive. It would probably have been fruitless because Gerrard would not have left Rangers for Watford. Nor would the managerial vacancy at Everton be of interest – to either party, for obvious reasons. But surely Arsenal would be a different scenario. Gerrard does not even appear on most bookmakers’ lists when it comes to the market on Unai Emery’s (above) successor. But, having had 18 months of top-level managerial experience and having been one of the Premier League’s best-ever players, why on earth would Arsenal not consider Gerrard?

There is no more respected a character in the English game than Gerrard.

He is clearly a very good coach, judging by the work he has done in Scotland, and represents his club with distinction.

Of course, the common theory is that Gerrard will succeed Jurgen Klopp (left, below) when the German decides to leave Liverpool.

Klopp’s contract expires in 2022 and he is reticent when the subject of an extension comes along.

Privately, Klopp seems averse to the idea of creating a Sir Alex Ferguson-style dynasty at Anfield, although that would be the ideal prospect for the club’s hierarchy.

And, if he were to take a break in a couple of years’ time, Gerrard would be in prime position to succeed him.

But that should not be putting off other Premier League clubs.

After the recent upheaval, there will be more vacancies arising and Gerrard should be towards the top of every shortlist.

But, as he looks set to sign that new deal, Rangers will be delighted at the prospect of keeping one of the brightest footballing brains in Britain at the helm for some considerable time to come.

Meanwhile, Arsenal and others are missing a trick.

TO use an inappropriate phrase, it is time someone banged heads together at the International Football Association Board. It is more than six weeks since the University of Glasgow published evidence that confirmed professional footballers were at significantly increased risk of neurological disease. They are five times more likely to get Alzheimer’s and four times more likely to suffer motor-neurone disease. “We are taking it as seriously as we can,” said Patrick Nelson, the IFAB chairman.

Could have fooled me, Patrick.