Pascal Jansen breaks Rangers silence as AZ boss gives direct address to Ibrox 'contact' question

AZ Alkmaar boss Pascal Jansen has given a blunt response to potentially being named the next Rangers manager.

Jansen is a rising star of management in the Eredivise having established AZ as a force in Dutch football during his three-year spell in the dugout - with the club currently building a league title challenge as they sit second in the division. He has also made his mark on Europe with the club having guided his side to a Europa Conference League semi-final last season - leading to speculation that the Light Blues were considering him as a replacement for Michael Beale.

The bookmakers had placed Jansen as the red-hot favourite earlier this week ahead of the likes of Kevin Muscat and Frank Lampard in taking on the Ibrox hot seat. But having only penned a new deal with AZ earlier this year - that will keep him at the club until 2025 - he played down the prospects of a move to the Scottish Premiership.

Speaking ahead of Thursday's Conference League clash with Legia Warsaw, Jansen was quizzed on if there has been interest shown from Rangers. He said: "I don't know if there has been contact with AZ, but there has been no contact with me.

"I also received it and received some messages from England, but I don't know where it came from. It's completely out of the question."