Keane made a huge impact at Celtic in 2010 – now can his ex-Spurs team-mate lead Rangers to the Scottish Premiership title?
Are Rangers taking a leaf out of Celtic’s book with one of the most high-profile Scottish Premiership signings in recent seasons edging closer?
Jermain Defoe might be 36 and not quite the force he once was but the Bournemouth benchwarmer remains a natural-born goalscorer with the mentality and big-game experience to make Rangers’ dreams of a first league title since 2012 come true.
According to talkSPORT (4 January, 10am), Defoe is heading to Ibrox on an 18-month loan deal. He is set to undergo a medical in Manchester on Friday.
And it is impossible not to be reminded of Robbie Keane’s stellar spell at Celtic in the second half of the 2009/10 season with his former Tottenham team-mate en route to Glasgow.
Keane might have been seven years younger than Defoe when he moved north of the border on a short-term loan deal but the similarities are certainly apparent. The Republic of Ireland legend was a hugely experienced and proven centre-forward with the talent and clinical touch to take Scottish football by storm.
And he certainly did. Keane scored 12 goals in just 16 league games, immediately establishing himself as a cult hero and winning Celtic’s Player of the Year award in just half a season.
If Defoe can make the same impact at Rangers, he will go down in Ibrox folklore. But could he go one better than Keane and lead The Gers to the title?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
