The Irishman is currently challenging for the title in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Qadsiah

Steven Gerrard has claimed that former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers knocked back his chance to bring in two players while in charge at Rangers.

The claim comes as Rodgers looks to take his Parkhead playbook at Al-Qadsiah and earn success in the Saudi Pro League as he nears at return date to Glasgow.

Gerrard has claimed that he requested his Ibrox sporting director to reach out to the Foxes after his Rangers side faced off against Leicester City's under-23 side.

He was keen to bring in Harvey Barnes - who would go on to play for England and secure a big-money move to Newcastle United - and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, with the midfielder going on to secure moves to Chelsea and Everton.

The Liverpool legend speculates that his old boss - who was in charge of Leicester at the time - could have been involved in the knock-back, telling The Overlap Daily, Gerrard said: “I tried to sign him on loan when he was a youngster at Leicester.

“We played their Under-23s in an international break with Rangers to give minutes to the lads that had stayed behind.

“We played them at Ibrox and I’m watching the game thinking, ‘who’s he, and who’s he?’ I go to the team sheet and it’s Harvey Barnes and Dewsbury-Hall.

“As soon as the game finished, I am saying to Mark Allen – who was the sporting director at the time – ‘can you get those two on loan. Do whatever we need to do to get me them on loan.’

“Unfortunately, Brendan Rodgers was the manager, so yeah that was probably the reason. I would have taken both of them on loan in a flash.”

Rodgers is set for a return to Glasgow to finally break his silence on his Celtic departure - almost two years after he left.

The Irishman has been linked up by the popular Celtic podcast A Celtic Sate Of Mind to speak at an event next June.

But in the meantime, he is battling it out with Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr for the Pro League title this term.

During his time at Celtic, he regularly zeroed in on the "rhythm" and attacking masterplan of the team - and he now appears to be looking to capture the same at Qadsiah.

Heading into the international break, Rodgers said: The players put on a high-level performance, with the same effort and attacking spirit that we always have. For us, the pace of the game determines the rhythm of the match, and we controlled it perfectly in the first half, and were able to continue attacking.

"I am very happy with what they offered, especially since the team maintained its level and style throughout the match."