Bournemouth and England striker Jermain Defoe has been lavishing praise on new Rangers boss Steven Gerrard.
Gerrard was unveiled as the new Rangers manager at the weekend, replacing Graeme Murty in what is his- first senior position as a manager since retiring from the game.
The news has been the talk of football since it came to light last week with all and sundry having their say.
Pundits and fans have been intrigued by the potential appointment given Celtic’s continued dominance and Gerrard’s status as one of the greatest midfield players of his generation.
And it has also given rise to intense speculation over how much the former Liverpool youth coach will have to spend and what kind of players might join him at Ibrox this summer.
Well could one of them be England and Bournemouth striker Jermain Defoe after the ex Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United star waxed lyrical about Gerrard on Sky Sports.
The 35-year-old, who has scored 275 goals in 675 career games and still harbours hopes of going to the Russia World Cup with England this summer, is in superb shape for his age and is still a threat at Premier League level for the Cherries.
He has found game time more difficult to come by this season but would be a real asset for Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.
And it seems Gerrard would not have to do much to persuade the striker to join him in Glasgow.
“I want to follow Stevie, yea of course!” an excited Defoe told Sky Sports News with a smile and a glint in his eye.
“It was always going to happen at some point, obviously I played with Stevie for England, I mean what a guy.
“I mean I could stand here and talk about Stevie forever you know. Great player, Liverpool legend, you saw the reception he got (at Ibrox), when I heard the news I was like (yes, great move).
“I just want to wish him the best to be honest away from football he’s such a nice guy, I loved playing with him, one of the best players I’ve ever played with.
“Without being biased, he’ll go on to be a top, top manager you know with his experience and just how he is as a person cool, calm, collected you know, he doesn’t feel the pressure, he loves the pressure.”
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