Getting Cooper at the second time of asking could take Gerrard’s Rangers up a level

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The Scottish Premiership looks to be beyond Rangers but the international break provided a handy juncture at which Steven Gerrard could assess his side’s progress this season and perhaps begin planning for next time around.

One feature of the campaign has been the inability to regularly find a reliable central defensive partner for Connor Goldson.

Nikola Katic, Joe Worrall and Gareth McAuley have all had a go at various points of the season but never quite settled into the role.

That made it clear why Gerrard, as per the Evening Standard, tabled a £3m bid for Millwall’s Jake Cooper in July, before the Sun reported in December that he went back in for the towering defender.

Rangers have made strides under Gerrard but the pressure will be on to make up even more ground on Celtic in the Liverpool icon’s second season, especially amid the uncertainty following Brendan Rodgers’ departure.

And going back in for Cooper could help that become a reality. Millwall have had another famous FA Cup run this season but have also struggled down by the bottom of the Championship and that may convince Cooper to leave, especially with Rangers likely to be able to offer the prospect of Europa League football.

Goldson has proved to be money well spent and Cooper could have a similar effect for a side that needs a stronger foundation before it can bring about the consistency that Gerrard surely craves.