Steven Gerrard is set to hold crunch talks with Rangers over the next 48 hours with a view to returning to Ibrox as the club’s next manager.
The 44-year-old Englishman is now the odds-on favourite, with some bookmakers suspending the betting on him taking the job.
It also emerged that Gerrard has pulled out of a charity match in France next week due to ‘professional reasons’.
As reported exclusively in Mail Sport on Monday, the former Liverpool and England icon is now the frontrunner to take charge of Rangers for a second time.
Russell Martin is also in contention, and it remains the case that he holds considerable support among senior figures at Ibrox.
It’s expected, however, that Gerrard will hold further talks with Rangers over the next 48 hours, with the club keen to make an appointment by the end of the week if possible.
It is understood that he won’t face any tax complications, previously thought to be a possible stumbling block, following his exit from Saudi Arabia in January.
Gerrard, who led Rangers to a league title in 2021, is keen on a return to Glasgow and to make a fresh start in the summer.
His ex-Liverpool team-mate Djibril Cisse announced on Tuesday that his former Champions League-winning captain won’t play in the upcoming charity match in France.
Cisse wrote on social media: ‘Unfortunately, for professional reasons, Steven Gerrard just advised me that he won’t be able to grace his presence for my anniversary next Tuesday, May 27.
‘My disappointment is great but my respect for my captain goes above all. What we lived together in Istanbul 20 years ago will go above and beyond. Big respect captain.’
Meanwhile, Rangers announced that six first-team players will leave the club as the summer clear-out begins.
Leon Balogun, Ianis Hagi and Tom Lawrence will all leave following the expiry of their contracts at Ibrox.
Vaclav Cerny will return to parent club Wolfsburg following his loan, while Rangers have chosen not to take up their options to sign loan duo Neraysho Kasanwirjo and Rafa Fernandes.
A club statement read: ‘Everyone at Ibrox and the Rangers Training Centre thanks the departing players sincerely for their contributions to the football club and wish them all the very best for their future careers.’