A big claim has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their pursuit of a replacement for Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the Ibrox dugout...

What's the talk?

According to talkSPORT journalist Jim White, the Light Blues have not been given the green light to discuss a deal with their former assistant manager.

He tweeted:

"My understanding is that no permission given as yet by @QPR to allow Michael Beale to speak to @RangersFC about vacant manager position - situation at standstill for now."

This comes after Sky Sports reported, on Saturday, that the Gers had made an official approach to the English side to speak with the 42-year-old, with it being expected that they would grant the Scottish giants permission to negotiate with him.

Frustration for Ross Wilson

The sporting director of the Light Blues could be left frustrated by this latest update as it had been reported, by The Sun, that he wanted a manager in place by the time the first-team returned to training on Monday.

Rangers' senior squad are set to be back in action at the training ground in the upcoming week, aside from Croatia's Borna Barisic, and Wilson wanted van Bronckhorst's heir to take charge of the first session back.

However, this claim from White indicates that it will be difficult for the Gers to wrap up a deal for Beale before Monday, as they are yet to discuss terms with the English coach.

This means that an interim manager/staff member may be needed to take control of the group in the coming days as Rangers continue to pursue Steven Gerrard's former assistant.

The unprecedented break that the 2022 winter World Cup in Qatar has handed clubs has given the Gers the chance to make a change in the dugout without the new appointment being thrown straight in at the deep end.

Rangers do not return to competitive action until the 17th of December, against Hibernian in the Premiership, and this means a new hire has the opportunity to work with the squad and implement their tactics and style of play without being thrust into matches straight away.

The quicker they can get a replacement for van Bronckhorst the better as the longer they wait to get a deal done the less time the boss will have to prepare his side to attack the second half of the campaign.

Wilson should, therefore, be frustrated by this current 'standstill' and will be hoping that the situation can be resolved as quickly as possible as the Rangers players will be eager to meet their new manager in order to take his ideas on board in training, rather than plodding along with no real direction.