Rangers should join reported race for Everton defender

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Steven Gerrard has completed signings for three players already this summer in Steven Davis, Jake Hastie and Jordan Jones, but he is yet to solve his main summer priority at Rangers.

Gareth McAuley’s contract is set to expire and Joe Worrall has returned to Nottingham Forest after his loan. It leaves the Gers with just two first-team centre-backs in Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic.

At least, one new centre-back is required. It seems Gerrard is hell-bent on bringing Oldham Athletic’s George Edmundson to Ibrox, but reports currently indicate that Oldham have rejected offers made by the Gers.

Perhaps forgetting about Edmundson is best, and finding a new, up-and-coming centre-back to sign should be on Gerrard and Mark Allen’s agenda. An Everton centre-back is absolutely perfect.

Matthew Pennington is expected to leave Everton on loan once again this summer, after spending the last two seasons in the Championship with Leeds United and Ipswich Town.

The Liverpool Echo claim Derby County and Wigan Athletic are interested, but it would just be another sideways move for the defender. It is now time for 24-year-old Pennington to leave Everton, and try something different.

The defender has managed just nine senior appearances for the Toffees, but has 111 first-team outings under his belt. In those nine Everton matches, he scored against Liverpool – though Everton did lose 3-1 back in April 2017.

Very strong in the air but more than adept with the ball at his feet, Pennington is perfect for Rangers’ style of play and can even offer cover on the right side of the defence.

He is unlikely to cost a huge amount given he has zero chance of breaking into Marco Silva’s side. Though the Toffees will want a fee, given his contract expires in 2021. But a move to Rangers would be ideal for Pennington.