Steven Gerrard's reported hopes of signing Joseph Okumu for Rangers this summer appear to have been handed a boost after the confirmed that the Elfsborg centre-back wanted to leave the Swedish club, which should surely increase the chances of him ending up at Ibrox ahead of next season.

Rangers were initially linked with the 23-year-old by Football Insider back in March, with the report suggesting that the Light Blues were preparing for the exits of Filip Helander and George Edmundson this summer and are duly keen to add another centre-back to their ranks.

Whilst links with Okumu have slightly died down in recent weeks, with the Gers having also been heavily linked with Vitesse centre-back Danilho Doekhi recently, it would appear that Okumu could well be on the move this summer.

The Kenya international admitted earlier this week that he "definitely" wants to leave Elfsborg for another European club this summer, which will surely put Rangers on high alert as they prepare for next season.

He was also heavily praised by Eflsborg's sporting director Stefan Andreasson recently, as he suggested that the 23-year-old was the best defender the Allsvenskan has ever seen, saying: "Okumu has been talked about a lot since he came to us.

"We understood that this was a very good player, then he showed maybe the whole of Sweden last year, and also Europe. It is clear that Okumu is one of the best.

"I have said it once before, that he is the best centre-back that has ever been in the Allsvenskan - you can say that sometimes.

"He is destined to have a career outside Scandinavia, which is positive. We must enjoy him as long as he's here."

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Therefore, it certainly seems as if he is resigned to losing Okumu this summer; and given that the Kenyan has been so highly rated, Ross Wilson would be foolish to not at least try and bring him to Rangers ahead of next season.

In other news... £94k per start: Gerrard is making the right call by axing Rangers dud, he will quickly be forgotten