GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST is on the brink of clinching a return to Ibrox and becoming the new manager of Rangers.

The Dutchman is expected to be confirmed as Steven Gerrard’s successor sooner rather than later as the champions’ search for their incoming boss is finalised.

The deal will see van Bronckhorst – signed by Dick Advocaat in the summer of 1998 - return to the club where he won five major honours before joining Arsenal.

Rangers identified the 46-year-old as their prime target in the days after Gerrard controversially quit Ibrox to replace Dean Smith at Aston Villa.

And the Light Blues board are now poised to unveil the manager that they hope will lead Rangers to their 56th Premiership title and cup success this season.

Rangers will begin life after Gerrard when they face Hibernian in the semi-finals of the Premier Sports Cup on Sunday and a make-or-break Europa League clash at home to Sparta Prague follows next midweek.

Victory in both competitions would set van Bronckhorst up for a crucial run of Premiership fixtures that culminates in the second Old Firm clash of the campaign at New Year.

The appointment of van Bronckhorst will bring an end to the search for the man to follow in Gerrard’s footsteps as supporters get set to welcome their former Light Blues hero back to Ibrox.

Van Bronckhorst and his representatives have held extensive talks with Rangers in England and Holland in recent days and a deal is now in place for him to put pen-to-paper.

Rangers confirmed this week that Jermain Defoe, goalkeeper coach Colin Stewart and B Team staff David McCallum and Brian Gilmour had been placed in charge of first team matters until Ross Wilson, the sporting director, had completed his managerial search.

That will now conclude with the appointment of van Bronckhorst as Rangers prepare for a new era under the guidance of the former title-winning Feyenoord boss.

Van Bronckhorst has still to put his management team in place and an agreement has yet to be reached to bring Jean Paul van Gastel to Glasgow. 

The Dutchman is currently in charge of Chinese Super League side Guangzhou and he remains van Bronckhorst's first choice to join him at Ibrox.