By Frank McAvennie

9th Apr, 2021 | 7:22pm

McAvennie: Rangers owe Defoe a new deal after all he's done for Gerrard

Rangers will offer Jermain Defoe a new contract with a view to getting him on the coaching staff when he retires. 

That’s according to former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about Defoe’s contract situation.

Defoe, 38, is out of contract this summer and recently told TalkSPORT that he wanted to finish his career in front of fans which suggests he would be open to signing a new Ibrox deal.

He said, “I want to play another season in front of the fans. This season has been special, I don’t know how I’ll top that. Just a personal one to finish in front of the fans.”

McAvennie claims Steven Gerrard owes Defoe after he came to Rangers and helped to improve players like Alfredo Morelos

“He’s an amazing professional and he still does a job for them,” McAvennie told Football Insider correspondent Dylan Childs.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Stevie keeps him on with a view to getting him on the coaching staff because he’s done Gerrard a favour. 

“He came in and worked his socks off then got himself some goals and I reckon he’s made Morelos better because of his professionalism. 

“Gerrard won’t give Defoe a contract for nothing and you can bet that he’s a huge influence in the dressing room too.”

Defoe joined Rangers after leaving Bournemouth in January 2019 and he has 67 total appearances for the club so far.

The striker has since admitted that the potential new Celtic boss Eddie Howe ‘didn’t know how to manage’ him at Bournemouth in comments made to TalkSPORT.

In other Rangers news, Kieran Maguire blown away by Rangers as they strike agreement on another “big” commercial deal.