Andy Halliday comments on Jermaine Defoe amid Rangers contract reports

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Andy Halliday has told Open Goal’s Keeping The Ball On The Ground that he believes Rangers will hand Jermaine Defoe a new contract this summer amid comments from Steven Gerrard that the veteran is in talks over a potential new contract.

Defoe, 38, scored on Sunday afternoon as Rangers cruised past Old Firm rivals Celtic to in 4-1 at Ibrox and edge closer to completing an unbeaten Scottish Premiership campaign. The England veteran now has 30 goals in 70 appearances for Rangers.

But he is out of contract in the summer and turning 39 next season, it remains to be seen if Defoe will pen another 12 months. Gerrard has claimed, as per the Chronicle, that they are in talks but allowing Defoe to make the final decision.

“We’re in talks with Jermain about what’s next for Jermain. We want to be really respectful, give him the time to make his own decisions,” Gerrard said – as per the Chronicle. “We’ll listen to Jermain and see what he wants to do moving forward.”

It is claimed that Sunderland are interested in luring Defoe back to the Wearside club with promotion to the Championship a possibility as they sit in the play-offs. Halliday, though, thinks Rangers will sign him for another season at Ibrox.

“I do think Rangers will keep him for another year,” Halliday said. “I’ve said that for a while he will give him another year. He’s pals with Gerrard. The amount of experience to the rest of the squad, you can’t underestimate what he brings to young players.

“So many situations when Rangers need a goal, they bring on Itten, any time Defoe plays he scores a goal. Comes on for five mins yesterday and he scores. He still brings a lot to the team, I’d love to know his goals-to-minute ratio. He loves being there.”

TBR’s view – Worth keeping Defoe around?

He proved as much on Sunday. Not only did he score a tap-in or a first time finish, but he took the ball from near the halfway line and drove at the Celtic defence – then showing age is just a number, cutting inside and then outside and finishing well.

Defoe still has the goalscoring touch. He still knows where the goal is, and he can still beat players with the drop of a shoulder. While he might not have enough for a potential Champions League group stage campaign, he certainly does for Scotland.