When Steven Gerrard signed on in Saudi, links to raids on Rangers were always going to be inevitable.
The legendary former Liverpool midfielder is credited with helping to transform Ibrox fortunes and played a key role in Rangers rebuilding from the ruins of 2012.
Winning the club’s 55th title and briefly halting Celtic’s dominance, Steven Gerrard remains a hero at Ibrox and he’s just been joined by a fellow title winner in the Middle East.
And as Gerrard looks to bolster his Al-Ettifaq squad ahead of next season, a further two could yet join him.
Rangers 55-winner moves to Saudi
Al-Ettifaq and Steven Gerrard have confirmed the signing of former back-up Rangers goalkeeper Andy Firth.
The Gers signed the Liverpool youth academy product back in January 2019 and Firth spent three-and-a-half years at the Ibrox club.
Whilst the stopper only played one game for the Gers – at the end of the 18/19 season against Kilmarnock – Andy Firth became something of a cult hero amongst fans.
A passionate member of the squad, Firth embraced every minute of his time at Rangers and was regularly seen rousing the team and fans.
That positive presence has left an impression on Steven Gerrard who has now brought Andy Firth to Saudi Arabia and Damman with Al-Ettifaq.
Joining the Saudis as ‘assistant goalkeeping coach’, Firth might not be the only 55 winner to join Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq this summer either.
Gerrard to swoop for Ibrox pair?
The futures of Rangers leadership pair James Tavernier and Connor Goldson remain up in the air this summer.
The long-serving Ibrox duo have been linked with a Saudi reprieve as Steven Gerrard and Al-Ettifaq reportedly monitor their situations.
Whilst testimonial hopeful James Tavernier has been adamant that he wants to see out his contract, the winds of change are sweeping through Ibrox.
The club have already released five players at the end of their contracts with Gers manager Philippe Clement targeting young, hungry players ahead of the new season.
Whether or not Rangers should keep a level of continuity is a topic of hot debate with the club’s disastrous domestic returns of the last three seasons devastating supporters.
Those Saudi sounds around James Tavernier and Connor Goldson continue to reverberate around Ibrox and as Andy Firth heads out, their future remains unsettled.
