Ross McCrorie must be pleased as Rangers eye Skrtel, Burke and Goldson

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Glasgow Rangers have been linked with bringing the three central defenders to Ibrox during the summer.

One of the main things that Steven Gerrard may well have learnt during the final weeks of the Scottish Premiership season is that his Rangers defence was going to need a significant amount of work during the summer as it was clearly a real weakness for the Gers.

Rangers’ best centre-backs this term have arguably been Danny Wilson and David Bates and both will be playing elsewhere by the time the new season starts, with Wilson leaving for MLS in January while Bates has agreed to join Hamburg in the summer.

It is therefore extremely encouraging that Gerrard appears to have taken so little time to identify a number of targets who, if signed, should improve the Gers’ centre-back options significantly.

The Daily Mirror has suggested that West Ham’s Reece Burke is a target, while The Scottish Sun has suggested that Gerrard’s former teammate Martin Skrtel is being pursued, and the same publication also linked Connor Goldson with an Ibrox switch.

While players such as Fabio Cardoso and Bruno Alves may be concerned about how much game-time they may get next season if they stick around and Gerrard has some luck when it comes to landing some of his targets, another centre-back in the Rangers squad must be delighted with the speculation.

If Rangers do not add to their options over the summer, Ross McCrorie has to be considered for a place in the Gers’ strongest back four. But that would arguably be a huge waste.

McCrorie is a hugely talented prospect and has performed well at centre-back since he emerged in the first-team, but his most recent run in the side should have shown Gerrard that the best chance of the 20-year-old realising his potential will come if he is used in holding midfield.

He has occasionally looked vulnerable in the back four – the Scottish Cup semi-final is perhaps the best example – while he looks almost a completely different animal playing slightly further forward.

But with Rangers’ defence looking so thin right now, there is a danger that his main role could be at centre-back next term, which would be an incredible shame. So he, like many of the Rangers fans, may be hoping that Gerrard has plenty of success landing Burke, Skrtel and Goldson as their arrivals may enable McCrorie to get the chance to shine in what has to be considered his best position.