Rio Ferdinand convinced Steven Gerrard is ready to say YES to Rangers return

Steven Gerrard WILL be heading back to Rangers, if Rio Ferdinand is to be believed. The former Liverpool midfielder has been linked with an emotional return to Ibrox as a replacement for Russell Martin.

Martin was sacked earlier this week following a dire start to the season. Gerrard enjoyed plenty of success during his first spell with the club after ending their decade-long wait for a Scottish top-flight title.

Gerrard departed for Aston Villa in 2021 and then subsequently moved to Saudi side Al-Ettifaq. He has been out of work since leaving the latter earlier this year but Ferdinand believes a move back to Rangers is now firmly on the cards.

Speaking on talkSPORT, the former Manchester United defender said: “I have to say when I interviewed him he left me in no uncertain terms that he wants to become a manager, has full confidence in doing that and is itching to get back in now.

“He never said this to me but I personally think that with the energy in that room if Rangers came calling he would go. He would at least have that conversation.

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“When I get to sit down with these guys I get to pick at them and understand them. If I was an owner of a football club and Steven Gerrard was sat in front of and me and I felt that energy that was in the room, he is getting the job.

“His time before at Rangers he did great there. I have never had so many Rangers fans flood the comments of my podcast, they’re all desperate for him to come up and at least have that conversation.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Steven Gerrard is managing again very soon and Rangers is one of my main threats.”

Ferdinand’s prediction comes shortly after he spoke with Gerrard at length on an episode of his podcast. And in their chat, the former midfielder revealed what he’d be looking for from his next job.

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“I’d love another go at some point,” he said. “I want to change a few things and improve a few things and come back fresh.

“With a few different people around myself. I’d love another couple of challenges doing this. And that’s what I’m working on in the background at the moment. A few different ideas, a few different people around me.”

Gerrard added: “But there’s a part of me that still feels that there’s a bit of unfinished business in terms of wanting to go in and face another couple of exciting challenges. But I want a certain type of challenge.

“If in an ideal world they come available, I’ll jump at them. If they don’t, I won’t go back in. I want to be at a team that’s going to compete to win because I think that suits me better. I think certain jobs and certain clubs would suit my style and the way I like to go about it.”

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