Kieran Dowell has admitted his pre-contract switch to Rangers was a "no-brainer" after discussions with Michael Beale and former team-mates at Ibrox.

The creative midfielder, 25, penned a three-year deal at Ibrox - with the move becoming official in the summer - after speaking with Todd Cantwell, John Lundstram and Tom Lawrence.

Dowell has played with the trio down south earlier in his career and sought advice on a possible move to Ibrox before committing to a move to Glasgow.

"I knew Todd Cantwell who has come here. He'd only been here two or three months when I spoke to him about it and he was raving about it already," Dowell told Rangers TV.

"He's hit the ground running here and has done really well so far.

"Then I know John Lundstram from my time at Everton and Sheffield United as well.

"He was the same, spoke really highly of the club and obviously how well he has done well here too.

"And Tom Lawrence also who has not played as much this season but he recommended it would be a great move for me."

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Dowell previously played alongside Cantwell at Norwich and is confident the pair can strike up a fruitful partnership at Ibrox.

He added: "I get on really well with him. I love playing with him, we are like-minded people in football terms and we look for each other on the pitch.

"I think when we've played with each other we have always done well together."

A move to Rangers was already appealing to Dowell after advice from former team-mates but after speaking with Beale he was completely sold.

"Massive," said Dowell of the impact of discussions with Beale on influencing his decision. "Speaking with him so early he showed how much he wanted to get the ball rolling with it. 

"I met him a couple months ago and obviously not knowing too much about Scottish football he just sold it to me completely, how he wants to play, how I am going to fit into the team. It was a no-brainer in the end really."