Jack would be the perfect fit for Gers & Gerrard ...he’d be the best player in Scotland
SAYS BARCA LEGEND XAVI
XAVI reckons Jack Wilshere would be the best player in Scotland if he teamed up with Steven Gerrard at Rangers.
Wilshere, 28, is a free agent having had his West Ham contract terminated and is available.
Rangers have been credited with an interest and the former Barcelona legend has claimed the English playmaker would benefit hugely from a move to Glasgow.
Xavi was asked about Wilshere and his potential destinations having tipped him for greatness after a head-to-head almost a decade ago.
And despite the fact the former Arsenal kid’s career has not taken off in the way the World Cup winner had forecast, he still believes there can be a late resurgence if he was to switch to the Premiership.
Xavi said: “I have had a lot of respect for Jack, for many years.
“He played an incredible game against Barcelona (in 2011) and after that I predicted he would go on to be one of the best midfield players in the world and the future of English football. That is a prediction that I am sure would have come true if it were not for some horrible injuries.
“Rangers could be a very good fit for him. The pace in Scotland is not as fast as England and it would give him more time on the ball. That is where he excels, his vision and passing is incredible.
“They are a big club with a young coach who knows what it takes to win at the very highest level.
“There is also the chance of him having the opportunity to play Champions League football again. That is where every player wants to be and at Rangers he will be given the opportunity to fight to play in it.
“Gerrard will be a big fan of his for sure. They share a lot of similar qualities.
“It would be a risk because of his injuries but if Rangers could manage to keep him fit and without injury, he would be the best player in Scotland.”
Wilshere has admitted he wants a fresh challenge as he assesses the various options he has on the table.
However, Steven Davis could end his career at Ibrox and Gareth McAuley fears the veteran may end his illustrious and record- breaking stint with Northern Ireland to try and extend that relationship with Rangers.
The former Light Blues defender is full of admiration for his ex-international team-mate as he continues to defy the ageists who had written him off in the twilight of his footballing days. Davis has won a host of plaudits in his homeland as he continues to smash records on the national scene.
The 35-year-old won his 121st cap for his country last night in the game against Austria, having already taken the Northern Irish record from Pat Jennings with a 120th outing in the play-off semi-final win over Bosnia in Sarajevo.
Davis is now just four short of England hero Peter Shilton’s all-time UK record.
Passion to represent Northern Ireland never wavers with Davis – but McAuley is concerned the ticking clock may call time at some point if the midfielder wants to keep starring at club level. Gerrard has a host of engineroom options at younger ages at his disposal and the former Rangers stopper admits the end of this current Euro 2020 campaign might of fer food for thought. Davis’
current Rangers contract expires at the end of this season.
And McAuley said: “If we get to the Euros, he might think that is enough to prolong his club career but nobody knows. They are only second-guessing.
“Do you know what keeps the legs going? It’s the desire. He still has that for club and country.”
Davis is showing little sign of slowing down, despite the fact he will turn 36 on New Year’s Day.
The former Southampton ace has been instrumental in Rangers’ excellent recent performances and he was at the heart of the Europa League triumphs over Willem II and Galatasaray which booked the club’s return to the group stage.
Davis has also featured plenty in the Premiership and he is likely to have a major role in Saturday’s top- of- the- table Old Firm encounter against Celtic at Parkhead.
Manager Gerrard has taken time to point out the “incredible standards” set by the veteran while calling him a “credit to himself and his family,” on and off the pitch.
As well as performing on the park during match days, Davis will pass plenty of knowledge and nous on to players such as Glen Kamara and Ryan Jack during his day- to- day work at the training centre.
McAuley insists that is just the same in the Irish set-up.
Speaking to Sunday Life, he said: “Davo, being the person he is, will be passing on knowledge and helping those guys, as a father-like figure or mentor.
“He’ll give back as much as he can while he is playing and he is still at a high level.”
McAuley, meanwhile, has also offered support to Jordan Jones.
The Northern Ireland winger has roared back into the picture under Gerrard and McAuley said: “There were many who believed he was finished at Ibrox but he has never lost faith, put the head down and worked hard.
“I’m thrilled for Jordan. Full of confidence, he can be a top player for Rangers.”
The pace it is fast as isn’t as would nd, it in Engla more give him the ball time on LFOR POTENTIA XAVI ON PREMIERS HIP EIN WILSHER