Rangers boss Steven Gerrard expects bids for James Tavernier

Steven Gerrard fully expects Rangers to receive offers for captain James Tavernier in the close season.

The Ibrox manager revealed that both transfer windows of his first campaign in charge of the club featured advances from English clubs for Tavernier.

The 27-year-old signed an extended contract until 2022 last September after Championship outfit West Brom saw two bids for the right-back rejected.

Tavernier starred throughout a 17-goal season, making 57 appearances as Rangers improved to reach the Europa League group stages and finish second in the Premiership.

He missed the final league game last Sunday on Kilmarnock's artificial surface, resting a jarred knee as a precaution at the end of his fourth full season with the club.

The link with West Brom, who failed to reach the Premier League at the play-off semi-final stage, hasn't gone away.

It's not something he wishes to encourage but Gerrard admits there are sure to be questions asked of Rangers about the availability of his skipper this summer.

Gerrard (below) explained: 'It's no surprise he's been on the agenda for most of this season.

'There have been calls about Tav with clubs interested and I'm sure there still is.

'Whenever a transfer window opens, there's interest in Tav. He has been so consistent and, for me as a manager, he has been there for every game and every training session.

'It has been me who has pulled him away from it at times. If I didn't, he'd have played in every game. He has the body and capacity for any league.

'In saying all of that, I want him in this league and in my team.

'We have a fantastic captain/manager relationship. We know his agent very well and, as with any player, I'm open to these chats at any time.

'The reality is, and I probably shouldn't be saying this, every player has his price. Every manager up and down the UK has the same issues.

'But I can't be any clearer, I want my best players to stay at Rangers and Tav certainly comes into that bracket.' Tavernier played for nine clubs, including six on loan in the English lower leagues while trying to break through at Newcastle, before brought north by Mark Warburton in 2015.

He enjoyed a stunning first campaign as Rangers romped to the Championship title, scoring 15 times from the full-back position.

Tavernier managed only one league goal the following year in a turbulent top-flight return for Rangers as Warburton's reign ended in February.

One of the few consistent performers of another unsettled season in 2017/18, with Pedro Caixinha sacked and Graeme Murty then Jimmy Nicholl in charge, Tavernier finished up as captain.

Gerrard was content for him to retain the honour at the outset of his new Ibrox era after making pre-season assessments of his group - and has only been impressed with his work since.

'When I looked at appointing a captain, I did a lot of due diligence and asked a lot of questions about the dressing room,' explained Gerrard.

'I did a lot of homework on it and it could have been another few because we have good leaders in here.

'But looking from afar, Tav was always the most consistent Rangers player that I'd seen on the eye. Then, after chatting to him and knowing he wanted to stay, that was a big help.

'I didn't want to make a new player I was bringing in as captain.

'Tav could potentially get to the level of the top full-backs in England. If you analyse it, he's got the body to do it.

'He's robust enough to do it and he has got the technical ability to do it.

'His quality from the side, in terms of crossing and assists, it really doesn't matter what league you play in.

'If you're putting that in, people will finish it off.

'He's improved defensively but can still get better.' Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos beat their captain to a place in the nominations for PFA Scotland Player of the Year alongside Callum McGregor and winner James Forrest of Celtic.

Gerrard concedes that Tavernier was always up against it to convince his fellow professionals - despite his own swashbuckling style on the right flank for Rangers.

'Everyone knows what I think of him, he's had a fantastic season,' added the manager. 'His numbers have been record-breaking.

'But I'm not surprised that Tav wasn't on the PFA list.

'We don't go for right-backs, do we? We go for strikers and midfielders, where all the action and excitement happens. I'm sure Tav will get over it.

'The four nominations were good, Ryan and Alfredo have been consistent and exciting.

'And the two Celtic lads were flying as well. It's unlucky for Tav but the players probably got it right.' Meanwhile, Oldham defender George Edmundson last night handed in a transfer request, with the Boundary Park club having rejected a number of bids, including one from Rangers, for his services.