Connor Goldson has been linked with a move to Leeds United (Getty Images)
According to claims from Football Insider (h/t The Scotsman), Rangers are planning to offer Connor Goldson a new deal after his latest heroics against Celtic in the Old Firm derby on Saturday.
The 27-year-old’s unlikely brace sealed a 2-0 victory for Steven Gerrard’s side at Celtic Park as the Gers went four points clear of their arch-rivals atop the Scottish Premiership standings.
Goldson has less than two years remaining on the four-year deal that he signed while joining Rangers from Brighton back in 2018. The Ibrox giants are now determined to secure his long-term future in Scotland.
Born in Wolverhampton, Connor Goldson started his footballing career with Shrewsbury Town and featured extensively in the third and fourth-tiers of English football. The centre-back made 120 appearances for Shrewsbury in all competitions before completing a move to the EFL Championship with Brighton and Hove Albion in 2015.
Goldson was a part of the Brighton side that won promotion to the Premier League at the end of the 2016-17 season but he struggled for game time in the top-flight. The 27-year-old managed only 42 appearances for the Seagulls across three seasons before departing for Rangers in 2018. He has since established himself as an indispensable component of the club’s backline.
Connor Goldson has racked up an impressive 120 appearances for Rangers in all competitions just three months into his third season at the club. That pretty much sums up how important he has been for Steven Gerrard.
The manager has rotated the likes of Leon Balogun, Filip Helander, Nikola Katic and George Edmundson at the heart of the defence over the past 12 months. But Goldson has remained an undisputed starter for the Gers even in some of the less important games.
The 27-year-old has established himself as one of the best central defenders in Scotland and has been instrumental in whatever Rangers have achieved in recent times. He has also netted 12 goals in all competitions for the Gers, demonstrating his quality at both ends of the pitch.
Truth be told, Goldson has been worth every penny of the £3million outlay as far as Rangers are concerned and at 27, he is now entering his prime years as a central defender.
The former Brighton man’s impressive run of form last season attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, including West Ham and Leeds United in the summer, but the Gers were in no mood to part ways with their prized asset.
A new deal for Goldson would, therefore, be a good way to recognise his contribution to the club. This also puts Rangers in a strong negotiating position in case some of the potential suitors come calling for his services once again.
Gerrard needs to keep hold of his key players if he is to have a realistic chance of putting an end to Celtic’s stranglehold on the domestic throne. All in all, Rangers offering their star centre-back a new long-term deal would definitely be a statement of intent and a step in the right direction.