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Rangers boss Steven Gerrard backed to top Celtic next season for ONE reason - Warburton
RANGERS manager Steven Gerrard has been backed to top Celtic in the Premiership next season by former Gers boss Mark Warburton.
Steven Gerrard will be keen to stay at Rangers says Warburton
Rangers boss Gerrard helped the club finish second in the Scottish Premiership last season in their highest league position since 2012.
Despite failing to win a trophy, fans are optimistic about the new campaign after a positive end to a season in which they beat Celtic twice.
Gerrard has now been subject of interest from Championship outfit Derby as Frank Lampard nears a move to Chelsea, but the former Liverpool man has been backed to snub a deal to move back to England and fire Rangers to Premiership glory next season.
"Steven is at a magnificent institution of a club,” QPR manager Warburton told talkSPORT.
"I’ve said many times I truly believe next season is Rangers’ season.
“They’ve gone what they’ve had to go through – which is a lot of managerial appointments and squad adaptations.
"But next year is Rangers’. Celtic will be aware of that – of what challenges they face.”
When asked if Gerrard could be tempted to replace Lampard at Derby after it earned his former team-mate a move to Champions League outfit Chelsea, Warburton ensured fans that his journey with Rangers isn’t over.
But next year is Rangers’. Celtic will be aware of that
He continued: “Stevie will be very keen to stay at that great club, take it forward and stop Celtic’s run.
"He’ll want to establish himself as a legend of the club.
“Derby is a fantastic club with a genuine support but I’m sure Steven is keen to ignore any rumours and focus on Rangers.”
Gerrard is keen to improve his squad before his second season as boss at Ibrox, and former Rangers striker Kris Boyd has given the 39-year-old some transfer advice.
Rangers: Steven Gerrard looking to 'improve quality' next season
Boyd told Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk podcast: “There’s no doubt Rangers need a left-back. The recruitment last summer wasn’t good enough.
“They signed a couple of players off the back of playing against them in the Europa League. Right away they didn’t look as if they were comfortable.
“It’s one thing playing in front of two or three thousand fans to then playing in front of 51,000 fans.
“It’s a big, big jump. I felt as if a few of them froze last season.”