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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Aidan Smith

Al-Ettifaq hoping Steven Gerrard connection can help land major £27.4m transfer

Steven Gerrard could be set to link up with fellow Liverpool legend Sadio Mane at Saudi outfit Al-Ettifaq.

Reuters claim Al-Ettifaq have made an offer to Gerrard and are awaiting a response from the England and Liverpool legend.

And it's said that Gerrard welcomed the approach from the Saudi club but stated his desire to consider his options.

A source told the news outlet: "Al-Ettifaq made an offer to Gerrard.

"He welcomed the idea, but asked for time to study the offer."

One of Gerrard's first signings could be Mane, according to a report in the Daily Mail with the Public Investment Fund in Saudi keen to bring the winger to the country.

The PIF have named Al-Ettifaq as the likely destination for the 31-year-old given the Saudi Pro League's side interest in Gerrard.

Mane switched to Bayern Munich from Liverpool last summer in a deal worth £27.4million.

Gerrard has been out of the dugout since being sacked by Aston Villa last year.

The 43-year-old was dismissed after a dismal run of form with the club winning just two matches from their opening 12 in the Premier League.

Gerrard has been linked with a number of other clubs with speculation mounting over a possible return to management in England with Leeds.

After his management exit at Villa, Gerrard has been working as a pundit but is thought to be keen on a return to coaching.

Meanwhile, Michael Beale is looking to insert a “spine” of longevity into his Rangers squad which can help wrest the cinch Premiership title back from Celtic.

The Ibrox club ended the season trophy-less with their Old Firm rivals clinching the domestic treble to make it five trophies out of six in the last two campaigns.

Beale, who took over from Giovanni van Bronckhorst last November, brought in Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin during the January transfer window and so far this summer he has added 25-year-old midfielder Kieran Dowell from Norwich and 23-year-old right-back Dujon Sterling from Chelsea, with goalkeeper Jack Butland due to join from Crystal Palace in July.

Asked how Rangers bridge the gap to Celtic next season, the former QPR boss told Sky Sports Scotland: “We start how we’re ending with our style being very clear, our energy being very strong on the pitch in terms of our pressing and the bits out of possession.

“Make sure that we’re really hard to beat then allow our quality to come through.

“We’ll look to recruit a spine that’s enabled to stay at Rangers for the next three to five years to build on.

“You’ve seen the start of that with Nico Raskin and Todd Cantwell coming in and Kieran Dowell. We’ll look to add to that with a little bit of experience but certainly in terms of quality in the final third.

“You’ll be able to tell by my face at the start of pre-season whether I’ve been successful in getting everyone that I want but either way we’ll come back into pre-season next year with a few new ideas that I’ve wanted to implement.

“We need to go and recruit a certain type of player for that. We’ll come back stronger.

“Our league form in the last 24 games would say if we can get to that stage where we are now, we’ll be in the mix.

“It’ll be about getting to the March international break where we need to be and then going for it.”

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