Alves future can wait while Portugal are in Russia

STEVEN GERRARD will wait until Portugal’s World Cup adventure is over before contacting Bruno Alves to discuss his Rangers future. The 36-year-old centre-back has yet to play a minute in Russia but will be with his national squad until at least Saturday, when they face Uruguay in a last-16 tie. Alves still has a year left on his lucrative contract at Ibrox but has been linked with Vitoria Guimaraes in his homeland. Gerrard has spent £5million this summer to strengthen his central-defensive options with the signings of Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic. That would push Alves down the pecking order, but Gerrard believes the veteran should be left free of any club concerns for now. ‘I haven’t spoken to Bruno yet,’ said the former England captain. ‘I have given him the respect he deserves as he has very important things to focus on right now in terms of the World Cup and that should be his priority. ‘I don’t think I should be phoning him and having a conversation on his domestic career just yet. There will be a time for it.’ Gerrard has, however, already moved to inform some players they will not be in his plans. Neither Portuguese defender Fabio Cardoso nor Mexican forward Eduardo Herrera were included in the pre-season training camp in Spain, with the latter now closing in on a move to Toluca in his homeland. ‘I had a conversation and told them that their game time would be very limited,’ said Gerrard, who is keen to make Roma forward Umar Sadiq his eighth summer signing on loan this week.

l FORMER Rangers defender Harold Davis has died. He played for the club from 1956 to 1964, winning four leagues, two League Cups, one Scottish Cup and a 1961 European Cup Winners’ Cup runners-up medal. A club statement read: ‘Rangers FC is extremely saddened to learn of the death of club legend Harold Davis. A member of the Ibrox Hall of Fame and fondly remembered by supporters of his time, Davis has sadly passed away at the age of 85. Everyone at Rangers passes on their sincere condolences to Harold’s family at this difficult time.’