Rangers agree deal for Jermain Defoe from Bournemouth

The striker is joining up with his former England teammate Steven Gerrard at Ibrox

Jermain Defoe has joined Rangers on an 18-month loan deal from Premier League side Bournemouth, according to Sky Sports. The striker, who played for the south coast club in the 2000-2001 season when they were in League One (then the Second Division), has struggled to make an impact in his second spell since joining the club on a free transfer in the 2017 summer window. Now surplus to requirements with Eddie Howe preferring Callum Wilson and Josh King up front, Defoe has been allowed to leave the club on loan and join up with former England teammate Steven Gerrard at Ibrox. The 37-year-old had only appeared four times for the Cherries this season and sources indicate he was desperate for regular playing time. The deal is believed to include two recall options, one this summer and another in January 2020. Defoe is reportedly on a salary of around £90,000 at the Premier League club and it is yet unclear how much of a contribution Rangers will make to that. Southampton and Northern Ireland midfielder Steven Davis is also close to agreeing a similar move and return to Ibrox, where he played for four years, on another 18-month deal.