After former manager Steven Gerrard suggested he’s ‘identified individuals’ lazy press types have ‘put Rangers on red alert’.

Despite the fact all managers want players throughout the year, Gerrard ‘identifying individuals’ apparently means he’s coming to pillage the crown jewels of Ibrox.

Is he?

As we have suggested before, Steven Gerrard wants PL standard players, and the preference of a man with an almost unlimited budget (Villa are 6th richest club in the PL) is likely to be to sign players from the PL.

This is far from us saying the Ryan Kents, Glen Kamaras and Joe Aribos couldn’t handle the PL – they surely could. It’s the fact a manager tasked with ensuring his side doesn’t get relegated and in fact pushes for a slim chance of a European place is more likely to want guaranteed results from players experienced at the PL level.

This doesn’t mean he doesn’t want our players, but it does mean Rangers are no more on ‘red alert’ over his announcement than they are for any club who might seek to sign a player of ours during the January window.

It is how the thing works, and it’s just weak journalism to suggest his interest is pretty much on Rangers.