Kevin Thomson urges Rangers to sign someone like Celtic’s Scott Brown

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Rangers boss Steven Gerrard is expected to bring in a whole host of new names at Ibrox this summer.

Rangers youth coach Kevin Thomson has told The Scotsman that Steven Gerrard needs to bring a central midfielder to Ibrox that can emulate Celtic captain Scott Brown this summer.

Gerrard has already completed the signings of three players, bringing in Scott Arfield, Allan McGregor and a permanent deal for Jamie Murphy, with a whole host of other names linked to the club.

Skipper Brown has showed last season just how effective he can be, scooping the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award after making 56 appearances in all competitions despite being well into his thirties. He turns 33 at the end of the month.

Thomson, who is currently a youth coach with his former side Rangers, has urged Gerrard to sign a player that can mirror the type of player – such as Brown – that can provide a spark.

“There needs to be a spark,” said Thomson. “It’s okay having that within the manager, but there needs to be a spark among the players. You need good changing rooms at good clubs.

“You look at Scotty [Brown], no-one can tell me he doesn’t do a good job across the city. Steven has done the same thing for every dressing room he was in at Liverpool. That’s the sign of a good captain.

“He’ll be looking for someone that can do that for Rangers. Like a fine wine, Scotty’s getting better and better with age. That’s testament to the type of 
person he is and the drive to be the best he can be. That’s the challenge.”

Thomson, 33, played alongside Brown at Hibernian before moving to Ibrox in 2007, and then down south to English Championship outfit Middlesbrough three years later.

Gerrard’s priority in the transfer window this season will be to add a new centre-back, with only Fabio Cardoso, Bruno Alves and Ross McCrorie currently considered as options. McCrorie is better in midfield, and Alves’ future is in doubt.

If former Liverpool and England captain Gerrard is to sign a new midfielder, it is likely he will have to sell first with the Gers boasting plenty of options in the centre of midfield. But a Brown-like enforcer would be key, according to Thomson.

Brown has a year left on his Celtic contract, which the Daily Star claim is worth £25,000 a week.