Exclusive: Johnson offered club-record Preston contract after Rangers talks
Preston North End have offered Rangers target Daniel Johnson a club-record contract, Football Insider can exclusively reveal.
The Championship club have taken action to avoid losing the 28-year-old playmaker when his current deal expires in the summer.
A Preston source has told Football Insider that Johnson has been offered a club-record deal in the region of £17,000-a-week to stop him quitting Deepdale.
North End do not want to lose Johnson on a free transfer at the end of the season or to a cut-price January deal.
The 28-year-old held talks about a move to Glasgow during the last window and was axed by Alex Neil from the senior squad when a transfer appeared close.
But the two clubs could not agree a fee and Rangers had a £2million bid for Johnson rejected as the Championship club held firm on their £4m valuation.
The left-footed midfielder has claimed it was easy to put the transfer speculation to one side and settle back in at Preston.
He missed the start of the season with a groin injury but has started 16 of Preston's last 18 Championship matches, missing one due to suspension.
Operating mainly in a number 10 role, Johnson has scored three goals and supplied three assists from his 17 league games this season.
Rangers have proved adept at luring out-of-contract players north of the border in recent years, with Scott Arfield, Joe Aribo and Allan McGregor among those signed on free transfers.