RANGERS are entering the final stages of their search for Steven Gerrard's replacement as manager after holding talks with Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

And the Dutchman is poised to go head-to-head with former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard as sporting director Ross Wilson seeks to make an appointment in the coming days.

Van Bronckhorst and Lampard are the two leading candidates to fill the position that was vacated by Gerrard on Thursday as he quit Ibrox to clinch a deal with Aston Villa.

Villa confirmed on Saturday that assistant manager Gary McAllister, coaches Michael Beale and Tom Culshaw, performance expert Jordan Milsom and analyst Scott Mason have also moved to the Midlands to form Gerrard's backroom staff.

The loss of the 41-yer-old and his team was a significant blow for Rangers as they left Ibrox just months after leading their side to the Premiership title and on the eve of a hugely significant run of fixtures at home and abroad this term.

But the champions are now edging closer to making a decision on who will succeed Gerrard and guide Rangers in the defence of their league crown after meeting van Bronckhorst in London on Saturday morning.

The former Feyenoord and Guangzhou boss emerged as a prime contender for a return to Ibrox earlier this week and he has now been joined by Lampard at the top of the shortlist as Rangers consider their options.

Lampard ruled himself out of the race for the Norwich City job on Friday and is now in the running to succeed his former England team-mate as he looks to return to management following his sacking at Stamford Bridge last season.

The 43-year-old is interested in making the move to Glasgow and is vying with van Bronckhorst for the top job at Ibrox after Rangers cooled their interest in former midfielder Gennaro Gattuso and narrowed their search.