Rangers hero Barry Ferguson has told Steven Gerrard to leave James Tavernier where he is.
The former Light Blues boss was this week announced as the new manager of Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia.
The Liverpool and England legend became the latest headline name to join the Middle Eastern football revolution.
His move comes in the same week that Jota left Celtic for Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad.
After Gerrard's announcement was made, some loose links between Al-Ettifaq and James Tavernier emerged online.
And while Ferguson wouldn't blame any player of boss for taking the mega-money on offers, he wants to see the Ibrox skipper hang around for a period of success under Michael Beale.
He wrote in the Daily Record: "There is always the nagging question of who might be heading out of the club in the opposite direction, and that’s why I’m a little bit concerned about speculation linking Steven Gerrard with a move for James Tavernier.
"Look, everyone will have their own thoughts on what’s going on in Saudi Arabia at the moment and I understand why a lot of people don’t like it. But, from a purely professional point of view, I can’t blame any manager or player who ends up taking the oil money.
"The numbers we’re talking about are frightening - it’s a bottomless pit of cash - and offers are being made which are completely life-changing for the guys involved. It’s a one-off chance to set your entire family up for the rest of their lives.
"So if a young player like Jota finds that impossible to resist then I’m not about to knock him for it. And it’s the same thing where Tavernier is concerned. Yes, there’s a downside involved. It’s a huge change of environment to move to Riyadh overnight and then live under Sharia Law. On the pitch, it’s not going to be the same as playing in Glasgow and thriving on the intensity of the Old Firm.
"But it’s not forever. And the kind of sums that are being thrown around would be very difficult for any professional person in any walk of life to turn down.
"For purely selfish reasons, I hope Tavernier isn’t put in the position of having to make that choice. I’d prefer it if Gerrard stays well away from him because he’s such an important figure in that Rangers side and he still has a massive part to play. The guy has toughed it out for a long time at Rangers and gone through some very hard yards. So he must be looking at the work that’s being done this summer and thinking he has a real chance to lift a lot of silverware over the next two or three years.
"I’d love nothing more than to see him captain the club through a period of success because I was lucky enough to experience what that feels like for myself and, trust me, money can’t buy memories like that.
"But, on the other side of the coin, I couldn’t criticise him if his head was turned by a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I just hope it doesn’t come to that. This certainly feels like an exciting time to be a Rangers player. And we’re about to find out what all of Beale’s forward planning looks like when it’s out there on the pitch."
