Jermain Defoe fights for Rangers as he turns loaded James Tavernier enquiry into evidence of Ibrox enormity

Rangers favourite Jermain Defoe believes rival clubs have no clue the sheer enormity of Ibrox life and that is the overriding reason why James Tavernier remains in Glasgow

The 41-year-old was effusive in his praise of the adored Ibrox skipper who has scored 116 times in Light Blue during nine action-packed seasons which has included a run to the UEFA Cup Final and ending waits to secure Premiership, League and Scottish Cup glory. Tavernier is itching for more silverware and that is why Defoe – a team-mate for two-and-a-half seasons after being signed by Steven Gerrard – reckons potential suitors have been left wanting.

The England legend, speaking on the filthy fellas podcast, said: "People need to realise, and a lot of people don't actually realise for Tav it has to be the right move for him, okay, if he is leaving Rangers, Rangers should be playing Champions League if you win the league. It's so difficult going from (Rangers to elsewhere). You have to go and experience it at that club.

"You talk about the standards and the expectations. You can't come second, you may as well come last. He's in an environment where he is playing in front of 50,000 every week, crazy Rangers fans, it feels like 100,000 when you are in the stadium. Europa, or Champions League. He is the captain, is winning trophies, if you look at the list of players who have played for that football club, big names.

"He's thinking 'If I leave here it needs to make sense for me'. Because what's the point? You going to leave like Joe Aribo for instance, and I love Joe?"