Lampard holds Rangers talks as Chelsea legend closes in on return to management

06 October 2023 , 06:55

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Frank Lampard is in the running to become the new Rangers boss (Image: Warren Little/Getty Images)

Frank Lampard has held talks with Rangers bosses over a return to management.

Lampard has been out of work since his stint as Chelsea's caretaker manager came to an end in May, with the Blues winning just one of his 11 games. However, Rangers are interested in appointing Lampard as their new manager, with the former England midfielder among the potential candidates to replace Michael Beale.

Beale was sacked earlier this month following a 3-1 defeat to Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership. Rangers are currently third in the league behind rivals Celtic and St. Mirren.

And the Daily Record are reporting that Lampard met with club officials to discuss taking the Rangers job on Wednesday night in London. However, he is not the only one in the running, with the report adding that Kevin Muscat has also made it to the final round of interviews.

Muscat, who spent one season at Rangers as a player, is currently in charge of Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos. The former Australian international succeeded current Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou in the role after he left to join Celtic.

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Muscat is said to have held talks with Rangers via video call on Wednesday, having returned to Japan after his side beat Shandong Taishan 1-0 in an Asian Champions League match in China on Tuesday. The report adds that Kilmarnock's Derek McInnes is also 'under serious consideration', while Eintracht Frankfurt manager Oliver Glasner has 'thrown his hat into the ring'.

Steven Davis is currently in interim charge and his first game ended in defeat, with Cypriot club Aris Limassol beating Rangers 2-1 in the Europa League on Thursday. "We're hurting from tonight but it's important as a group we stick together," he said after the match.

Michael Beale was sacked by Rangers last week (Getty Images)

"I still believe we have some real quality players. Obviously, confidence has been hit. You go through these periods in your career and it's a really difficult moment.

"By sticking together you make sure to do the basics right in terms of hard work and application which they have been doing. It's important we continue that and things will turn because I believe in the qualities of the squad.

"We'll get players back which will help. The most important thing is right now is us being a group together. They're all desperate to turn it around. Obviously, the confidence has been hit, that's natural, I've been there myself as a player."

Matthew Cooper