Why Rangers should hand McGregor, Davis and Defoe new deals
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard claimed recently (h/t The Daily Record) that he wants to secure contract extensions for Allan McGregor, Steven Davis and Jermain Defoe.
All three players’ deals, including Jermain Defoe’s loan from Bournemouth, expire at the end of the season. But Gerrard wants to keep hold of the veteran trio as he has been delighted by the impact of all three this season, helping Rangers reach the Europa League group stages and also battle Celtic at the top of the table.
Allan McGregor, 37, returned to Rangers last summer from Hull City, signing a two-year deal. He has been fantastic between the sticks for the Gers and was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year for the 2018/19 campaign. The 37-year-old is arguably the best goalkeeper in Scotland right now.
Jermain Defoe, 37, has proved to be a revelation since Gerrard brought him to Ibrox earlier in January. He scored 163 goals in 496 English top-flight appearances before joining Rangers on an 18-month loan in January.
He may be 37 now but the Englishman knows where the back of the net is, having netted 10 times in as many Scottish Premiership games. Defoe has also scored in the League Cup and in the Europa League this season.
Meanwhile, Steven Davis, 34, initially joined in January from Southampton on a six-month loan. He endured a slow start and there were some concerns that Davis might not be able to cut it out during his second stint at Rangers.
However, the midfielder soon managed to raise his game after the initial few months. That was enough for Rangers to hand him a year-long contract in the summer after the Saints released him.
Davis has performed extremely well this season, dictating the tempo of the game from a deeper role. Alongside the likes of Joe Aribo and Glen Kamara, the 34-year-old has solidified the Rangers midfield and there’s no way Gerrard can let him go.
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The likes of McGregor, Defoe and Davis know what it takes to succeed at the highest level. They are all top professionals with volumes of experience in the game. Furthermore, the trio would also have a big say in the dressing room and certainly play a crucial role off the pitch.
Verdict
Thus, it’s an absolute no-brainer from Rangers’ point of view to tie McGregor, Defoe and Davis to new deals.