Goldson is happy with Ibrox move for Cooper

CONNOR GOLDSON insists he would welcome increased centre-back competition — as Rangers continue to look towards Millwall’s Jake Cooper. The Ibrox club have been in talks over Cooper, but their English Championship counterparts remain determined to retain the left-sided 23-year-old. Steven Gerrard is thought to have other options under consideration if no deal can be reached — having already spent a combined £5million on Goldson and Nikola Katic. Ex-Brighton man Goldson believes his relationship with Katic is starting to develop, yet feels further depth could only benefit Rangers. ‘Every squad needs competition and every squad needs depth in every position,’ said Goldson. ‘Touch wood, there are limited injuries over the season but if there are injuries or suspensions then you need players that can step in and go and win games of football for this club. ‘That is the main thing. It is about a team, about the club that is going in the right direction and that

competitiveness can only help the club and help us push on.’ Goldson and Katic could make their Ibrox debuts in tonight’s friendly against Bury. Croatian Katic, 21, is taking his first steps in British football following a £2m switch from Slaven Belupo. ‘Nikola is a nice person, he is quite quiet off the pitch,’ said Goldson. ‘I know it is difficult for him coming from a different country but he has settled in well, he looks very good in training. ‘He is aggressive and he likes to defend, which is good. As a centre-half you need to build a partnership and every single week you want to keep a clean sheet because that is what our job is based on. ‘I like the fact he wants to defend, he doesn’t like conceding goals and he is very similar to myself. ‘The manager has said to us that if we defend this badge like our life depends on it we will keep clean sheets. ‘It doesn’t matter if you have played with each other for a day or two years, if you want to defend then you will defend. If you have people that don’t want to defend then goals will go in easily and they always will go in easily.’ It is understood that Umar Sadiq has undergone a medical as he edges closer to becoming Gerrard’s eighth summer signing. The AS Roma striker is still awaiting confirmation of work-permit paperwork before he is able to conclude a season-long loan move. Meanwhile, a question mark has been placed against Bruno Alves’ proposed exit to Parma after the club were charged by the Italian football authorities in an alleged match-fixing case. The issue, which centres on messages Parma’s Emanuele Calaio sent to Spezia footballers before a vital game last season, could potentially affect their place in Serie A next season. Alves has 12 months left on his Ibrox contract, but Gerrard is willing to let him go to free up wages.