MICHAEL BEALE is edging closer to an emotional return to Rangers to succeed Giovanni van Bronckhorst as boss.
The former Ibrox coach emerged as the leading candidate to land the top job earlier this week and Herald and Times Sport understands Beale is now on the brink of completing a move back to Glasgow.
The Englishman was part of Steven Gerrard’s backroom staff that won a historic 55th Premiership title two seasons ago and he followed the Liverpool legend to Aston Villa last November.
Beale was appointed QPR boss in the summer and recently turned down the chance to become the new manager of Wolves as he spurned the Premier League chance and opted to remain at Loftus Road.
But his time in London looks like it will prove to be short lived as Rangers aim to complete a deal that will see him replace Van Bronckhorst just days after he was sacked by the Ibrox board.
The Dutchman left Rangers nine points adrift of Old Firm rivals Celtic in the Premiership title race and still reeling from their record breaking Champions League campaign that saw them suffer heavy defeats to Liverpool, Napoli and Ajax in Group A.
Rangers are due to return to training after the World Cup break next week as attentions turn to the second half of the season and the top flight clash with Hibernian on December 15.
And it is Beale who is now likely to lead the Light Blues into that fixture after quickly becoming the first choice candidate for the Ibrox hierarchy.
Rangers will now look to finalise an agreement with QPR and land their top managerial target in the coming days.
