Gerrard eyes Defoe as McGregor seals return

NEW Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has placed ex-England international and Premier League star Jermain Defoe at the top of his transfer hit list.

Former Liverpool captain Gerrard will take the Ibrox hotseat next month and has set about building his squad for a tilt at the Ladbrokes Premiership title.

And 35-year-old striker Defoe, currently at Bournemouth, is the man he feels can fire the Gers ahead of Old Firm rivals Celtic as he seeks to bring him in on loan.

The Light Blues have already snapped up Canada international and ex-Falkirk midfielder Scott Arfield earlier this week and could strengthen the middle of the park further with the signing of Gerrard’s former team-mate Lucas Leiva.

The 31-year-old anchorman is currently with Italian side Lazio.

Meanwhile, one man definitely set for Rangers next year is goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

The Scotland international, who left Ibrox in the wake of the club’s financial meltdown in 2012, rejected the offer of a new contract at Hull to head back to Glasgow.

The 36-year-old admits he is “buzzing” to be back at the club where it all started for him.

And McGregor also confessed it was a simple decision to return to Scotland after five years with Hull and a spell in Turkey.

“I’m buzzing and cannot keep the smile off my face,” he said. “When the chance came, it was an absolute no-brainer, so I’m buzzing to be back.”

The 35-cap Scotland international won three league titles, a hat-trick of Scottish Cups and five League Cup crowns during his first Rangers stint after coming through the academy.

He said: “I started training here when I was 12 years old and used to come through the main stand maybe twice a week. To be back is incredible.”

The ambition for Rangers next season will be to close the gap to Celtic and key to that will be improving the club’s home form.

The Gers lost seven times at Ibrox in the Premiership this season as they stumbled to third place and McGregor acknowledges that they must adapt to playing in front of their home fans.

“We need to make this place a fortress where nobody wants to come,” he said.

“We need to win games, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, every game is an opportunity for three points.

“If you keep doing that, as we’ve seen before, that’s what wins you titles.”

Goalkeeper Allan McGregor has penned a deal at Ibrox.