Could Gerrard tempt former £11.5m teammate Ryan Babel to Rangers?

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Steven Gerrard has a big job on his hands at Rangers.

Newly-appointed Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has a huge job on his hands as expectation around Ibrox grows with the club desperate to close the gap on Old Firm rivals Celtic.

The Hoops are on course for sealing a consecutive domestic treble, establishing themselves as Scotland’s number one club which has ultimately prompted Rangers into a change of direction.

The Gers have appointed former Liverpool skipper Gerrard as their new manager despite his lack of experience, and they will be hoping he can draw several top players to the club who were perhaps previously out of reach.

A list of names has already been linked with a move to Ibrox, but one name which would get the pulses racing would be Gerrard’s former Liverpool teammate Ryan Babel who could be tempted to move this summer.

The 31-year-old originally joined Liverpool in an £11.5 million deal back in 2007 (BBC), featuring in over 90 league appearances before moving on to German club Hoffenheim.

Babel didn’t quite live up to expectations and his enormous potential, later having spells at Kasimpasa, Al-Ain in the UAE Arabian Gulf League and Deportivo before moving to Besiktas in early 2017.

The Holland international has since rediscovered his form, scoring 12 goals and grabbing a further five assists in 28 league starts, but with Besiktas seemingly out of the title race his future could be in doubt.

With a lack of Champions League football and his contract set to expire next summer, perhaps Babel could look for an adventure elsewhere and he has previously spoken of reuniting with Gerrard.

Back in 2015, Babel told Goal of his interest at teaming up with the newly-appointed Rangers boss at LA Galaxy, claiming it would be very special to play alongside him in the US.

While Glasgow doesn’t quite have the glamour as Los Angeles, perhaps Babel could be persuaded to make a switch to Ibrox and should such a deal take place it would certainly be a huge signal of intent.

Rangers need an influx of better quality if they are to really challenge Celtic, and their best bet under Gerrard is to either bring in top prospects or potentially former teammates who still possess quality to make a difference.