Boss wants his loan Rangers for longer term

STEVEN GERRARD has already been convinced by a quarter of Rangers loan stars that the club should secure them on a permanent basis.

Only weeks into the Ibrox careers of Lassana Coulibaly, Ovie Ejaria, Ryan Kent and Joe Worrall, Gerrard has expressed a wish that they sign on for longer.

Gerrard was reluctant to delve into details of any official business discussed at this early stage but hinted that tentative talks may have taken place in some cases.

Coulibaly, on loan from Angers, has been the star as a midfield destroyer. Nottingham Forest prospect Worrall only debuted days ago, in Villarreal, with an unfortunate part in the home side’s early goal.

Winger Kent has been the surprise package after an unhappy loan period at Bristol City while his Liverpool colleague Ejaria has impressed with midfield power and creativity.

Gerrard’s Anfield link could smooth the way for him to snap up two promising players bubbling under Jurgen Klopp’s star-studded title-chasing Champions League squad.

Gerrard said: ‘I’m still in Jurgen’s good books for the foreseeable future and Liverpool keep winning. So maybe there is some scope. But we rate them very highly.

‘If you’re asking me if I’d want the four of them for next year, I’d sign the four of them right now. But we have to be respectful to their parent clubs.

‘They are players we’ve gone for because we rate them very highly. Three of them have settled really well, Joe had a really tough debut but came through it very well in my opinion.

‘In an ideal situation, they are all on four or five-year deals here. But unfortunately it doesn’t work like that.’

Gerrard also has Umar Sadiq on a temporary deal from Roma. The giant striker has only had three first-team outings — against Maribor, St Mirren and Kilmarnock in the Betfred Cup.