Rangers eye move for Preston star
RANGERS are considering a move for Preston North End midfielder Daniel Johnson.
The 27-year-old is understood to feature on a list of potential targets as manager Steven Gerrard looks to strengthen that area of his squad.
Sources close to the English Championship club have played down suggestions of a £2million bid already being received. They also claim that Johnson could carry a higher price tag if any formal offers were forthcoming.
The Jamaican was voted Player of the Year at Deepdale after contributing 12 league goals and seven assists for Alex Neil’s side last season.
However, he has entered the final 12 months of his contract, meaning Rangers could negotiate a cross-border Bosman move come January.
Bringing in another midfielder has been Gerrard’s priority during the remaining four weeks of the current window, with a number of different options being considered alongside Johnson.
Meanwhile, Joe Aribo faces a
race to be fit for the first Old Firm game of the season after being ruled out for up to six weeks with an ankle issue. But Gerrard admitted relief at that diagnosis, having feared the 24-year-old midfielder would need surgery that could have sidelined him until December. Aribo (below) opened the season in fine form before taking a knock that kept him out of games against Livingston, Kilmarnock and Hamilton. Gerrard had hoped to have him back after the international break, but a setback could make him a doubt for the trip to Celtic Park on October 17. ‘He’s got a high ankle strain,’ revealed Gerrard. ‘We sent Joe for a scan and the report was more on the positive side in terms of how long he’d be out, so we took it steady and tried to get him back. But he had a bit of a setback. ‘We sent him to see a specialist and we got some decent news but, unfortunately, he’ll be out for four to six weeks. ‘There was a risk it could have been three months, so we’ll definitely take four to six weeks because we got good news rather than bad. But having him missing is still a huge blow. ‘Joe will be missed as he’s such a fantastic player. He’s a creator and scorer of goals for us so you will always miss that kind of player.’ Cedric Itten, Jermaine Defoe and Borna Barisic were all in training ahead of today’s game against Dundee United, while Gerrard revealed that Alfredo Morelos has been working with fitness coaches ‘off his own back’ during the international fortnight. ‘Alfredo has only had one day off since Hamilton. He’s come in and trained alone with the fitness coach,’ said the Rangers boss. ‘That is good to see. He did that off his own back. ‘That tells me that he is focused, that he wants to get himself ready for the games coming up. ‘He certainly looks better on the eye and is looking sharper, so he will be available for selection for the game tomorrow.’ However, there is a further injury concern over Allan McGregor. The veteran goalkeeper hasn’t played since the Europa League defeat to Bayer Leverkusen on August 6, with his replacement Jon McLaughlin yet to concede since stepping in. ‘I’ll have some more information on Monday,’ said Gerrard. ‘Allan is away to have a scan over the weekend. ‘It’s difficult to say if he’ll be days or weeks at the moment. He has jarred his knee. ‘He made a save with his foot and his knee has turned out, so he’s in a bit of pain at the moment. I don’t think it’s going to be a huge problem but it just goes to show how important it is to have two keepers in your squad.’