By Pranav Shahaney

18th Jul, 2022 | 9:10pm

Lionel Charbonnier issues claim as Fashion Sakala linked with Rangers exit

Former Rangers goalkeeper Lionel Charbonnier believes Fashion Sakala is set to move to Ligue 1 club AJ Auxerre.

The ex-France international took to Twitter to state that it was a done deal, before he quickly took back his words and said he had been hearing about this move.

While he admitted that it was not confirmed, he claims that it is only a matter of time before an announcement is made.

Via Twitter, he wrote, “Sakala from Rangers is coming to AJ Auxerre. Not (100 per cent) yet. Just heard about this. Nothing done.”

Mixed signals?

Giovanni van Bronckhorst does leave players out that are closing in on exits and that’s exactly what he did with Calvin Bassey.

The Nigerian is now on his way to Ajax and it made sense not to include him in the pre-season game against Blackpool.

Another player who missed that game was Sakala and this led to many worried Gers fans enquiring over his future and potential exit.

The club’s official media partner Heart and Hand allayed their fears and wrote on Twitter, “Update on Fashion Sakala – has a very slight knock so wasn’t risked. He is not leaving.”

Charbonnier will clearly have inside information at Auxerre and would not just be reacting to random transfer rumours.

Gers have lost Joe Aribo already and cannot afford to use another player who could be crucial in the final third so they’ve got to keep Sakala at all costs.

In other Rangers news, Celtic and the Gers are at loggerheads over a record-breaking SPFL midfielder and a bid for him has already been tabled.