Glasgow Rangers reportedly wanted to bring Jermain Defoe to Ibrox in the summer, and he has now been linked with an intriguing January move.
One of the most exciting rumours for Rangers fans over the summer was the suggestion that Steven Gerrard may look to sign Jermain Defoe on loan ahead of his first campaign at Ibrox.
The Scottish Sun reported that Defoe was a target for the Gers, despite earning £65,000-a-week, as Gerrard looked to add further quality to his attacking options.
The move would not happen. And while Alfredo Morelos has been in lethal form in front of goal, it is impossible to say that Defoe would not have improved their options further, especially given that they have been battling on four fronts this season.
Heading into January, it appears that Defoe could well be on the move. The Sun reported this week that he has a long list of clubs from the Premier League and Championship interested in a loan move for the 36-year-old.
The most intriguing name on that list of admirers is unquestionably Wigan Athletic, given that they are only in their first season back in the second tier and may well have the smallest budget of the interested sides – though their new owners may want to show some intent next month.
Should Defoe surprisingly end up at Wigan, that could potentially open the door for the veteran to strike up a partnership that may leave Gerrard ultimately ruing two summer decisions.
Rangers sold Josh Windass to the Latics in the summer. While Windass divided opinion during his time at Ibrox, he did score 18 goals during his final full season with the club.
With Wigan, he has predominantly played through the middle, either as an attacking midfielder or as a forward. If his side signed Defoe therefore, their partnership would be integral to the success of the move.
And the pair unquestionably have the potential to score the goals that push Paul Cook’s side well into the top-half of the Championship, if not onto the periphery of the play-off places.
Should that be the case, Gerrard would surely be forgiven for wondering whether the Gers have actually suffered by letting Windass leave and not getting Defoe through the Ibrox door.
Rangers have done incredibly well given the amount of changes that have taken place over the last few months and are definitely in a better place than when Gerrard took over. But perhaps they are the kind of players that could have put them in an even stronger position.
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