Rangers could test the loyalty of Michael Beale as a possible replacement for Giovanni van Bronckhorst at Ibrox, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Why would Rangers change managers?

The pressure is mounting on Giovanni van Bronckhorst at Rangers, after a disappointing season so far this campaign.

Van Bronckhorst replaced Steven Gerrard at Ibrox in October last year and after leading the club to the Europa League Final last season, the wheels have fallen off for the Dutchman this year.

Rangers are currently nine points behind Old Firm rivals at the top of the Scottish Premiership, and they were dumped out of the Champions League with the worst group stage record ever seen in the competition.

Talks haven't yet taken place about Van Bronckhorst's future, but the boo boys have been out in force at the Glasgow club, leading to an array of names being linked with the post - including Gerrard's former assistant Michael Beale, who was recently spotted at Ibrox attending a game and catching up with friends.

Beale has been heavily mentioned alongside the tipped Sean Dyche and Ralph Hasenhuttl, and Dean Jones thinks Beale's loyalty to QPR would be tested if Rangers were to approach him.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: "There's no doubt he's going to be linked to this job again, if it does come up, but again, it will be about the ambition involved on both sides of it.

"I mean from Rangers is he a big enough appointment for the fan group? Also for Beale, is it enough to entice him away? He turned down Wolves and talked about loyalty to QPR and how it's such a big trait to him. It'll be very interesting to see whether he can stay loyal again if Rangers come knocking."

How well has Beale done at QPR?

Beale arrived at Loftus Road in the summer with an impressive coaching CV. The 42-year-old has worked for Sao Paulo in Brazil as well as spells as a coach with Chelsea and Liverpool before linking-up with Steven Gerrard at Rangers, and then Aston Villa.

He left Villa at the end of last season as he looked for his first manager's job and opted to take the reins at Championship side QPR.

With one of the lowest transfer budgets in the league and competing in one the most competitive divisions in football, it was difficult to foresee how Beale would get on in his post as number one, but it's gone very well for him and Rangers.

Despite a recent blip in form before the World Cup break, Beale has had QPR punching above their weight in the Championship and saw them top the table in October and are still in the play-off mix.

The impressive job hasn't gone unnoticed and Beale has already turned down the chance to talk to Wolves before they finally settled on Julen Lopetegui, and was linked with the vacant Aston Villa role, too.