JERMAIN Defoe is set to make his loan deal to Rangers permanent in the summer.

The striker, on a temporary Ibrox stay from Cherries, has netted 16 goals in 28 games this season.

And the 37-year-old, whose deal at Cherries expires in the summer, has now penned a pre-contract agreement with Steven Gerrard's men, keeping him at the club until 2021.

Defoe told the Rangers website: “I’m just delighted to be honest.

"When I first signed, as I’ve said many times, it was an easy decision because I have always known about the size of this football club and the history and the great players that have played for this club, so I think for it to get all sorted and for me to secure my future here for another year is really special.

“I’m delighted, my family are happy and to have an opportunity to play for this football club is special for me.”

Gerrard added: “It’s fantastic news. It’s something we have been working on over the weeks and it is great to finally get that done and dusted.

"He is an incredible professional with the way he goes about his work on and off the pitch – he is a credit to himself and his family.

“And also on the pitch, which is the main thing. He is still contributing heavily – he is a major part of this group, this team and this squad and hopefully, together we can go and share some success as I think he deserves that.”

Defoe, who spent a loan spell at Cherries in the 2000-01 season, rejoined the club from Sunderland in the summer of 2017, but started just 16 games and scored four goals before joining Rangers on loan in January 2019. He has played 48 times for the Ibrox outfit, scoring 24 goals.