POTTER A FRIEND & DEFOE OF STRIKER
FROM BACK PAGE part in former director of football Mark Allen’s downfall was his failure to reduce Ibrox numbers and save money on wages in the last window.
Successor Ross Wilson is now in the process of trying to do that and after discussions with Gerrard they are looking to move on several fringe stars who have found first-team opportunities limited.
It would also let Gerrard strengthen his squad for the second part of their Premiership title push.
Gers are ready to consider loan deals or permanent moves for Murphy, Polster and Docherty. Murphy, 30, has just returned from a serious knee injury and needs games having made only two sub appearances.
Stoke City and former club Motherwell are two of the clubs interested in the former Scotland cap.
American defender Polster, 26, has also just two appearances and has struggled for game time since he signed from Chicago Fire in January.
Docherty, 23, was involved at the start of the Europa League qualifiers but since then has fallen off the radar.
The midfielder had a successful loan at Shrewsbury last season and hoped to break into the Ibrox first team but that hasn’t materialised.
There is interest from England where a number of clubs, including Shrewsbury again, would be keen.
Welsh cap King, 31, joined Rangers on loan for the season in the last window from Leicester but is now set to return to the Premier League title chasers next month.
The midfielder had hoped to head north and make an impression under Gerrard but that has failed to happen.
He has played five games and has decided to cut his losses and return to the Foxes.
Young winger Middleton, 19, is on loan at Hibs but hasn’t had the game time he or Rangers had hoped.
Hibs have also changed managers with Jack Ross replacing Paul Heckingbottom and he will return to Ibrox next month.
That would allow the Scotland Under-21 cap to go on loan for the second half of the campaign.
Gers tried to shift Albanian winger Eros Grezda, 24, in the last window and he will remain open to offers in January again.
Wes Foderingham is another who is attracting interest with a string of English Championship clubs, including Blackburn, Birmingham and Middlesbrough, looking at the English keeper, who is behind Allan McGregor as No.1.
Gers are also likely to let some of their younger players out to get firstteam exposure.
Midfielder Jamie Barjonas, 20, is wanted by Dunfermline and Partick Thistle. Defender Lewis Mayo, 19, could also go out on loan.