Rangers could make a 'huge' move for Sam Johnstone after Steve Bruce confirmed that the England goalkeeper is likely to leave his current club. 

That is according to Mark McDougall, a journalist for Football Scotland.

The lowdown

The Daily Mail recently reported that Rangers have 'expressed an interest' in signing Johnstone from West Brom, whose manager Steve Bruce admitted that the English 'keeper is probably 'going to leave' The Hawthorns when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Sky Sports have claimed that two of the Premier League's top seven in Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are in the frame for the 29-year-old's signature.

Rangers are looking to bring in a new goalkeeper, with Allan McGregor soon to be out of contract and potentially contemplating retirement.

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The latest

In Football Scotland, McDougall named some of the 'keepers with whom Rangers have been linked, such as Martin Fraisl, Benjamin Siegrist and Zander Clark, but he feels that Johnstone stands out on the list, adding that signing him could be a 'huge' boost to the club's prospects for next season.

He also believes that the Gers may have an advantage over United and Spurs because the Premier League duo may struggle to offer him first-team football.

That's exactly what the 29-year-old wants as he looks to secure a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad for the upcoming World Cup.

The verdict

It's hard to disagree with McDougall's assessment. Johnstone would be quite the coup for Rangers, based on the glowing praise he has received in recent times.

For instance, Micah Richards, for example, has dubbed him an 'outstanding' player and a 'wonderful professional'.

He has also produced big-game stops which leave onlookers stunned. His former Baggies manager Sam Allardyce called one save against Liverpool 'magnificent', while Gary Lineker's jaw dropped after an 'unbelievable' piece of goalkeeping against Manchester United last year.

Whereas he would have to dislodge Hugo Lloris or David de Gea if he joined one of his Champions League-chasing English suitors, there would potentially be a clear vacancy to fill in Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side if McGregor exits the scene.

In other news, this Rangers trio struggled on Sunday