Desperate Record try to pitch Gerrard to Newcastle

The Daily Record has gone into overdrive to convince their army of readers that Steven Gerrard is wanted by Newcastle United.

Yesterday Mike Ashley picked up a bank transfer for £305m as he waved good-bye to the club having secured long term retail and merchandising deals for his friends at Castore Sport.

It seems only a matter of time before Steve Bruce banks his pay-off with the new owners keen to get started to charm quality players to a club that hasn’t won a domestic honour in over 60 years.

A number of continental names will be linked with the job, domestically Eddie Howe, Brendan Rodgers and Frank Lampard carry appeal but according to the Daily Record the leading candidate is plying his trade, building his dynasty in the SPFL! And it’s not Callum Davidson.

Diverting attention from a record of one trophy win in nine attempts the Record has attempted to focus on Gerrard’s European record- while airbrushing over defeats from Slavia Prague, Malmo (home and away), Lyon and Sparta Prague over the last seven months.

Pleading the case for the Ibrox boss, the Record reports:

Staveley (Newcastle’s new CEO, Amanda) is adamant becoming a European force is a key objective and few managers offer a continental track record like Gerrard.

He lifted the Champions League as a player with Liverpool after a display for the ages and also reached another Final in 2007. He excelled in the 5-4 thrill ride victory over Alaves to secure the UEFA Cup as part of a Treble back in 2001.

Gerrard is synonymous with big nights in Europe and he has continued to excel since migrating from the pitch to the touchline.

It’s easy to forget but the 41-year-old was tasked with leading the first European campaign since flop Pedro Caixinha was rucking in the bushes with irate Rangers fans after a shocking exit at the hands of Progres Niederkorn in 2017.

Gerrard’s inner belief instantly transmitted to his players and he has reached the Europa League group stage in four consecutive seasons – including two runs to the last 16.

Scottish football is often underplayed but it’s difficult to disregard Gerrard’s signature wins over the likes of Porto, Galatasaray, Feyenoord and Braga.

Rangers have proven capable of excelling against teams with bigger budgets and that is something that will be key for Newcastle as they move up in the world and target a different type of player.

Last Friday Gerrard was warning the Ibrox board that the club won’t push on in Europe without spending money, claiming that nothing had been spent in the last two transfer windows despite fees being shelled out for Scott Wright and Jack Simpson.

Despite signing 40 plus players since moving to Ibrox Gerrard hasn’t been able to raise a transfer fee by selling any of his star finds.