Rangers have moved to quash any suggestion that Derby County have made an approach for manager Steven Gerrard.
The Championship side are reportedly making moves to line up their next boss, with Frank Lampard widely tipped to be the new Chelsea manager.
Derby are braced for an approach from the Blues for Lampard, with the Rams set to demand £4m in compensation if the former midfielder is to return to Stamford Bridge. Lampard led Derby the Championship play-off final in his first season in charge, where they lost 2-1 to Aston Villa.
The East Midlands club are loath to lose their manager, but it has not stopped speculation growing. According to reports, a number of would-be candidates have contacted Derby about their manager’s position – but have been told there is no vacancy at Pride Park.
The Rams are holding on to the hope that Lampard can be persuaded to negotiate an improved and extended contract. Rangers meanwhile have responded to claims that Derby had made moves to lure Gerrard to the club as Lampard’s replacement, with the Ibrox outfit adamant their boss will be going nowhere this summer.
A Rangers spokesman said: “Let’s get one or two things clear. Our manager has not been approached and he remains one hundred percent committed to the job he has here.”
Gerrard’s first season in Scotland ended with Rangers finishing second to Celtic, closing the gap on the eight-in-a-row champions and twice defeating the Hoops in league games.
Rangers are 3.20 to win next season’s Scottish Premiership crown, with Celtic 1.33 to retain their position as champions.
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