Rangers are closing in on the appointment of a new manager, after face to face talks with Ibrox chiefs on Friday.
The Gers manager search has taken one twist after another with several names being thrown into the hat, from Danny Rohl to Sean Dyche, but none have been more prevalent than Steven Gerrard.
Rangers have already started making transfer plans for their new manager, with Pierce Charles expected to be the first major target in January, while there is also the risk of losing key players.
Indeed, for all the fan excitment for what the likes of Nicolas Raskin could do under a legendary midfielder like Gerrard, it appears he could be off in January even despite the departure of Russell Martin, who had found a way to stall the Belgium star's career.
Indeed, Besiktas are planning a January approach for Raskin, in what could be one of Rangers' most expensive sales of all time and Gerrard's first blow after landing the job.
Gerrard "close to a total agreement" with Rangers
According to Ben Jacobs and Alex Crook, the former Premiership winner is on the verge of returning to Glasgow.
"Understand Rangers are now close to a total agreement with Steven Gerrard to return to Ibrox," Jacobs posted on Twitter.
"Gerrard held positive face-to-face talks with chairman Andrew Cavanagh and vice-chairman Paraag Marathe in London on Thursday."
Present at those talks would have also been Gerrard's Wasserman agency, who represent superstars like Real Madrid's Federico Valverde, valued at well over £100m by Transfermarkt, and Ballon d'Or candidate Denzel Dumfries.
Gerrard-Rangers-Ibrox
The former Gers and Aston Villa boss had hinted in a recent interview with Rio Ferdinand that he is ready to return to management: "I'd love another go at some point. 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.
"Now I'm enjoying family time and doing a lot of things that I haven't been able to do. 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."
Kevin Thomson believes Gerrard will be taking the job at “a good time” if a deal can be struck for the once England captain to return to Ibrox.
“I do think it’s a good time to take the job,” the former Gers midfielder told Sky Sports. “There’s no doubt they’ve underachieved, they’ve had a couple of difficult moments in Europe as well.
“But they’ve still got a (Premier Sports Cup) semi-final coming up, the Scottish Cup’s still to come. Obviously Hearts have made a wonderful start. Celtic have made an indifferent start, albeit they’re above Rangers, so I think a new manager would think that they’ve got plenty of time.
“Only seven games played domestically, another 30-odd to go, so it’s not as if you’re coming in and it’s already a foregone conclusion that they’re not going to win the league.
“It’ll be a tough ask, no doubt, but I think if you’ve got that belief that you think you can change the squad and get more out of the current players and start to get the team winning, I think it’s an exciting job for anyone.”