Rangers transfer news: ‘Serious incident’ leaves Josh Maja in limbo amid ‘absolutely superb’ Ibrox signing verdict
Bordeaux striker Josh Maja would be an “absolutely superb” signing for Rangers this summer after months of links to Ibrox, but his future is caught up in an “extremely complicated situation” in France, says Jonny McFarlane.
Maja’s future is up in the air after a “serious incident” saw Bordeaux’s final game of the season abandoned mid-game, after a pitch-invader attacked a Rodez player [BBC Sport, 5 June], meaning the 3rd-placed side’s promotion hopes are still unresolved.
The former Sunderland man could be available for free and the Light Blues have been heavily backed as a perfect destination if he does make the move.
Speaking on the Rangers Review YouTube channel McFarlane called Maja (9 June, 7m 30s): “A player that I’ve been hearing noises about coming to Rangers, or certainly Rangers interest, for six months at least.”
Of the issue that has left Bordeaux’s season unfinished he added: “It’s crucial because Josh Maja has a clause in his contract that lets him go for free.”
McFarlane went on: “I think he’s a guy with basically everything in his locker. He’s quick, he’s strong, he can go long, he can go in behind, he can hold up, he can play left or right. A really, really good signing this boy would be.”
Despite it being “widely reported” that Maja is a Rangers target, McFarlane admits it is currently “a bit quiet” in terms of information on that front but he has “heard a lot in the background about this guy”.
“If Rangers could actually persuade him to arrive I think that would be an absolutely superb signing”, he said, but acknowledged that if the 24-year-old is available on a free there will certainly be competition.
Push
It appears highly unlikely that Bordeaux will be promoted in the circumstances, with results elsewhere seeing them need a 4-0 win in the abandoned game, which was called off with them losing 1-0.
Whatever the outcome of any disciplinary action it is only likely to make that task harder for them if there is still a door open.
So, on a potential free transfer Michael Beale surely needs to be doing what he can to make overtures to Maja over a summer move.
There may be some doubts over his top-level suitability, with the French second tier and the English third tier the two divisions where has recorded double figures.
But he has goalscoring experience in Ligue 1 and the Premier League, and at 24 while coming off a 16-league-goal campaign as a free transfer there is a lot to like about the one-cap Nigeria international.
Beale has already said he wants more than one striker brought to Ibrox this summer, so if he could pick up one who doesn’t require a hefty transfer fee it would be a big boost.
In other Rangers news, the Light Blues appear set to get a breakthrough in another transfer pursuit after multiple bids fell short, with an announcement predicted next week.