Jermain Defoe and the Rangers loyalty tested by Tottenham as he lifts lid on fateful Ibrox phone call

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Jermain Defoe admits he could have left Rangers in the summer of 2021 - but snubbed Spurs to stay at Ibrox for another year.

The former striker is now back at Tottenham in a coaching and ambassadorial role after hanging up his boots a year ago. He scored 32 goals in 74 appearances for Rangers but the departure of Steven Gerrard and appointment of Gio van Bronckhorst was the beginning of the end for the then-veteran striker.

His final season at Ibrox was cut short as he left for Sunderland in January 2021 but he admits he could have left earlier as Spurs offered him a return to the club six months prior.

But having just won the Premiership, he decided to hang around for one more season before calling it a day. Defoe said on his BBC podcast: "I got a phone call from Donna at Spurs.