Upfront Derek McInnes admits he would love the chance to manage Rangers but concedes “others are leading the race.”
The former Aberdeen boss famously turned downed his former club in 2017 - a decision that still rankles within a section of the Ibrox support.
Rangers are zoning in on Gio van Bronckhorst and held “positive” discussions with the revered former Light Blues star in London on Saturday.
However, sporting director Ross Wilson is expected to meet with other candidates over the weekend as the search to succeed Steven Gerrard gathers pace.
McInnes rates van Bronckhorst highly from their playing days together under Dick Advocaat and wishes his old pal well if he lands the job.
Speaking in his Mail on Sunday column, he said: "Any manager, including myself, would love that kind of opportunity. But, as I write this, others look to be leading the running, most notably my old teammate Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
"I don't know much about Giovanni as a manager other than to say he did well at Feyenoord before moving to China.
"As a player, he came in as part of the big investment under Dick Advocaat. He immediately settled into the club and was well received by the players.
"His quality was clear. He was very light, there was not a lot of bulk or physicality to him but he had that sharpness and quickness of mind that prevented him being caught on the ball or feeling the weight of heavy tackles.
"He was such a smart footballer who always seemed to be a half a step ahead of everybody. That left side of Arthur Numan, Van Bronckhorst and Neil McCann was very strong and had good balance about it.
"In the 4-3-3 system that Dick
"Advocaat deployed, the onus was on Barry Ferguson as the controller and Giovanni could get forward and was expected to chip in with goals.
"He had a sweet left foot, took set-plays and was a very trusted player who was a pleasure to train and play with. He had a fantastic career, moving on to Arsenal and Barcelona and captaining Holland to the World Cup final in 2010.
"Rangers were good for him and his development."
And McInnes concedes he is sad to see Gerrard leave Scottish football with the pair enjoying a competitive rivalry when in charge of Rangers and Aberdeen respectively.
But the 50-year-old has revealed they both struck up a bond together in the wake of an auspicious start after the Liverpool legend's arrival in Scottish football.
He added: "Steven made some comments afterwards about his team being a class above us. I thought that was wrong and out of order at the time but I think he recognises that, in that first year, he said a few things he shouldn't have. And we always moved on quickly.
"There was a recognition and a regard for our team. We had cross words a couple of times but behind it all there was far more to our relationship.
"We were in touch constantly over those three years by message. Out of all the managers in the Premiership, I felt we enjoyed a very good relationship.
"I reached out to him when it was confirmed he had the Aston Villa job and we will keep in touch.
"I wasn't shocked to see him leave.
"Once Villa showed their interest, I think it would have been a bigger surprise to see him stay."
