Rangers transfer news: Michael Beale can now complete ‘absolutely superb’ Josh Maja signing amid update from Bordeaux
Rangers can now pounce to sign long-time Ibrox target Josh Maja as the Nigerian international is “expected to leave” Bordeaux for free.
Rangers Review’s Jonny McFarlane said on Friday (9 June) that he has heard “noises” about interest from the Light Blues for at least six months, and called him an “absolutely superb” signing if Michael Beale could convince him to move to Glasgow.
The former Sunderland striker’s contract doesn’t expire until 2024 but has a clause in it that allows him to leave for nothing this summer, which he is now expected to do, allowing the Gers to swoop in.
Fabrizio Romano reported on deadline day at the end of last summer (1 September) that the striker’s proposed exit from the French club was off, saying: “Josh Maja’s move to Birmingham has just collapsed. He decided to stay at Bordeaux for one more season and sign new two-year deal with 50% wage deferral which will be paid to him in June.
“New deal includes option to leave for free if team will not be promoted.”
The chances of the Ligue 2 side making it back into the French top flight are highly remote, as they required a 4-0 against Rodez in their final game of the season but saw the game abandoned while trailing 1-0 due to a “serious incident”.
As such, according to France Bleu on (7 June): “He is free to commit where he wants, or to extend his contract in Gironde. But, unsurprisingly, he is expected to leave the club despite his deep attachment to the club.”
With Alfredo Morelos gone at the end of this own contract and Antonio Colak tipped to leave if Cyriel Dessers arrives at Rangers, Beale wants to sign multiple strikers this summer.
After 16-goals in the French second tier Maja could be the perfect support option if Nigerian international Dessers, 28, can be signed from Cremonese, and with the Light Blues’ boss having to be smart with his money the opening for a free transfer could be exactly what he was waiting for.
Many would have expected a club the size of Bordeaux to make it back to Ligue 1 this season, but after narrowly missing out they appear set to lose their 24-year-old goalscorer for nothing.
Beale has already snapped up three free transfers in Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling and Jack Butland, and this looks like a great opportunity to add to that record as he continues his substantial rebuild.
In other Rangers news, the exodus from Ibrox is set to continue after five exits were already confirmed.