Have Rangers made decision on Ryan Hardie as Defoe deal nears?

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Glasgow Rangers have the option to bring Ryan Hardie back to Ibrox this month, but they are reportedly about to sign a new striker.

The January transfer window may just be a few days old, but Rangers have already captured the imagination with the Daily Record reporting that Jermain Defoe is all set to move to Ibrox on a season-long loan.

Defoe is an incredible signing for Rangers, even at this stage of his career. He has been prolific at almost every club he has been attached to, and he could be the kind of signing that puts Celtic on alert ahead of a potential Scottish Premiership title race.

And while the Defoe signing is yet to be confirmed, perhaps it would be fair to assume that the loan deal will have an impact on Rangers’ decision regarding Ryan Hardie’s future.

With Alfredo Morelos and Kyle Lafferty needing more support, some backed Hardie for a chance in the Gers first-team after a superb run of form following his return from injury out on loan at Livingston.

As reported by The Scottish Sun last month, Hardie was only scheduled to be at Livi until January, but there is an option to extend that the two clubs were discussing.

And with Defoe set to join, Hardie staying with Gary Holt’s men seems to make all the sense in the world right now. He can continue to enjoy plenty of game-time, hopefully score plenty of goals, and return to Ibrox in the summer having proved his fitness over a much longer period.

His contract with the Gers is set to expire this summer, according to the club’s official website, so if he continues to impress and earns himself a new deal, then keeping him around from next season could be a masterstroke.

Hardie is showing that he can score goals at the highest level. However, working alongside Defoe during the final 12 months of his loan could help the youngster improve significantly, ready to step up when the veteran’s spell at Rangers comes to an end.

The deal for Defoe initially appears to put another hurdle in the way as Hardie looks to make the grade with the Gers. But given that the starlet is probably not quite ready to come back and push Morelos and Lafferty, perhaps the timing of the move could set the stage perfectly for Hardie in the future.