RANGERS boss Steven Gerrard refused to be drawn on Cherries’ duo Nnamdi Ofoborh and Jack Simpson but said: “We are actively trying to add to the group come the summer.”

The Daily Echo understands the Ibrox outfit have made contact with both Ofoborh and Simpson over possible moves for the pair.

Both Cherries players are out of contract at Vitality Stadium in the summer, meaning Rangers, as a foreign club, are able to speak to the duo about potential pre-contract agreements.

As Ofoborh is under the age of 24, the Dorset club would be entitled to compensation if the midfielder is signed on a pre-contract deal. The Daily Echo understands Simpson would leave on a free.

Asked to comment on Ofoborh and Simpson, Gerrard said: “No. I think Rangers are linked with players on a daily basis, especially when the window is open so it’s nothing new to me.

"What I won’t do is be disrespectful to any individual player or their clubs. They are two players that belong to a different club.

"What I will say is we are making inroads, we are actively trying to improve the group.

“Not just now but also for the future as well, so yes we are actively trying to add to the group come the summer. But I won’t be mentioning any names or elaborating on that."

Gerrard is thought to be a long-term admirer of Simpson, having reportedly tried to sign him on loan in 2018.

Cherries boss Jason Tindall confirmed the club had accepted a bid for the defender from Cardiff last week, understood to be £750,000.

Speaking about Ofoborh’s future earlier this month, Tindall said: “If Nnamdi wants to stay at the football club, it is going to be down to him.

“He’s certainly a player we like and we want to keep. It then becomes the player’s decision whether he wants to stay at the football club or not.”