Rangers boss Gerrard comments on transfer links with Liverpool duo

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has dismissed links with two Liverpool forwards as mere “speculation.”

Liverpool legend Gerrard took over at Rangers this summer for his first taste of management, and has already returned to his former club to sign defender Jon Flanagan on a free transfer and midfielder Ovie Ejaria on loan.

However, he denied that he was hoping to sign further young players from Liverpool – specifically, strikers Dominic Solanke and Ben Woodburn.

“There’s not enough room for all the wingers we’ve been linked with — Ryan Kent, Harry Wilson, [Brandon] Barker and Jordan Jones,” he said.

“I don’t know how I’d fit them all in. I’m a fan of all the names, but it’s speculation. Dominic Solanke? Ben Woodburn? Also speculation. But we need more forward options.”

Solanke has failed to transmit his superb youth form into his senior career so far, after making the switch to Liverpool from Chelsea last summer. Last season, he managed just one goal in 26 games, although only five of those were starts.

Meanwhile, Woodburn broke onto the scene in 2016 when he became Liverpool’s youngest ever goalscorer with a strike against Leeds United in the EFL Cup. However, further first team opportunities have been few and far between; in fact, he has more senior international caps for Wales than Premier League appearances.

Gerrard chose Woodburn to be his captain for Liverpool’s UEFA Youth League campaign last season, but his latest comments suggest a reunion may not be on the horizon.

Meanwhile, addressing their need for forwards, Rangers are interested in taking Roma striker Sadiq Umar on a season-long loan.