Rangers are reportedly set to bring Gareth McAuley to Ibrox. According to the Glasgow Evening Times, Rangers are set to snap up defender Gareth McAuley after he made a shock U-turn to facilitate a move to Ibrox. The Gers tasted defeat for the first under under Steven Gerrard on Sunday afternoon, as they were beaten 1-0 by Old Firm rivals Celtic at Parkhead. Gerrard’s 12-game unbeaten run has gone, and whilst he brought in 14 signings over the summer – including Friday’s additions Joe Worrall and Eros Grezda – another arrival is imminent. Eddie Howe's Celtic due diligence: A major breakthrough? The Glasgow Evening Times report that Rangers are all set to snap up free agent defender Gareth McAuley, with a medical expected for the centre back later today. It’s even added that McAuley agreed terms with his former club Ipswich Town, but he performed a late U-turn on the deal when boyhood club Rangers made a last-gasp approach, and he is instead choosing a dream move to Ibrox. McAuley’s change of heart isn’t a great surprise if he really did grow up supporting Rangers, and a deal until the end of the season looks to be imminent for the 38-year-old defender. A Northern Ireland international with huge experience behind him, McAuley has been a free agent since leaving West Bromwich Albion at the end of last season, with his 39th birthday approaching later this year. Gerrard seemingly wants to land McAuley to bring experience to his defence, given the lack of experience of Nikola Katic and new signing Worrall, which may just make McAuley a valuable option on and off the pitch. In other news, After Tottenham Hotspur claims, 47-year-old manager leaves his job ‘by mutual agreement’<doc-sep>Gerrard confirmed the news after Gers' 1-0 defeat to Celtic at Parkhead Steven Gerrard has confirmed Rangers are expecting to sign Northern Ireland defender Gareth McAuley “in the coming days”. McAuley, 38, who left West Brom after they were relegated from the Premier League in May, is expected to sign on a deal until the end of the season. 2 McAuley has 79 caps for Northern Ireland He will become Steven Gerrard’s 15th signing and will compete with Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic for a start. The Gers boss was speaking after their 1-0 defeat to Celtic at Parkhead – Gerrard’s first defeat since he took charge in the summer. Olivier Ntcham’s goal from a swift Celtic counter-attack separated the two sides but Gerrard was adamant that there was a foul on Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack in the build-up. Gerrard said: “It’s defintely a foul. I’ve been around the game a very, very long time and that’s a foul in my book. It’s actually a foul in the fourth official’s book as well because he’s shouting down the mic, ‘Foul, foul, foul’. 2 Gerrard felt aggrieved at the awarding of Celtic’s goal “The referee’s ignored the information – we can both see clearly it’s a foul. And they go and score a goal.” “I just went in and had a calm chat [with the referee] and wondered why he never listened to the man on the side – the fourth official – and how he hasn’t seen a clear swipe from (Tom) Rogic on Ryan Jack. “Ryan Jack gets his body in between the ball and the man and he gets swiped, it’s a clear foul. It’s blatant….for me it’s 100 per cent foul.”<doc-sep>More Rangers Stories {{#articles}} {{item.title}} Gareth McAuley has detailed the influence he wants to have on the Rangers squad after joining the club. Gareth McAuley has revealed he hopes to improve Rangers’ youngsters following his move to Ibrox. The Light Blues announced on Monday that they have signed the defender on a one-year deal, who was a free agent after leaving West Brom at the end of last season. The veteran 38-year-old centre-back becomes the 15th signing made by manager Steven Gerrard and he will add further depth to the squad. McAuley is certainly now at the latter stages of his career, but has a wealth of top experience in the Premier League and also made 78 international caps for Northern Ireland. Building an entire Celtic team from scratch | Part 1 The defender has explained his role at the Scottish giants will be to try guide the development of some young players, with his experience in the game highly impressive. “[I hope to bring] experience, there is a young group of players here,” McAuley told Rangers TV. “Help them with my knowledge and help develop them, also challenge them to play in the team. “It’s a project here at the minute and I was speaking to the manager in the last week or so and that’s something I can bring to the project.” McAuley is set to provide another valuable option at centre-back for the Gers, with Connor Goldson, Nikola Katic and Joe Worrall alternative players at Gerrard’s disposal. The ex-West Brom ace has made 203 appearances in the Premier League and is renowned for being a no-nonsense defender that is commanding in the air. Rangers are set to have a huge fixture list due to both domestic and European demands, which is why adding another defensive option of such quality should be applauded by most fans. In other news, Ryan Mason has just posted a first Spurs-related tweet since Mourinho sacking<doc-sep>
Rangers are reportedly nearing a deal to bring Gareth McAuley to Ibrox. Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has told STV that he hopes to secure a deal for free agent defender Gareth McAuley in what will be the club’s final signing until January. The Gers lost for the first time under Gerrard today, as they were beaten 1-0 by Old Firm rivals Celtic thanks to Olivier Ntcham’s second half strike. It’s now important that Rangers respond and don’t completely slip away following their outstanding start to life under Gerrard, whilst he even has some more signings to bed in. Has the Premier League held England back? Centre back Joe Worrall and winger Eros Grezda arrived from Nottingham Forest and Osijek respectively on Friday, taking it to 14 summer signings – and number 15 appears to be imminent. Defender Gareth McAuley is poised to sign for Rangers according to BBC Sport, and Gerrard was unsurprisingly asked about the situation after the final whistle against Celtic. Gerrard has told STV that he hopes to have a deal tied up soon, confirming the reports that a move is close, but added that Rangers aren’t rushing a move, which will be their final signing until January. “I hope that it is going to be the case,” said Gerrard. “There is no rush on it. That will be the last deal,” he added. McAuley, 38, has been a free agent since leaving West Bromwich Albion at the end of last season, and he would be snapped up as veteran competition for the likes of Connor Goldson, Nikola Katic and Worrall. The Northern Ireland defender is away on international duty so may only complete his Rangers move later in the week – but the Gers are seemingly nearing yet another swoop. In other news, ‘Wasn't expecting to hear that’: Some Arsenal fans react to rumour about their own player