Rangers transfer news: ‘Move fast’ Josh Maja update emerges after Bordeaux contract development Monday
Josh Maja is not “top of the shortlist” at Rangers but has been linked and “things move fast” according to Football Scotland.
The Bordeaux striker can leave the French club for free after their failure to gain promotion from Ligue 2 was confirmed on Monday (12 June), thanks to a clause in his contract signed last summer, when their abandoned final game of the season was declared a defeat against Rodez [BBC Sport].
The one-cap Nigerian international scored 16 goals in the French second tier and the Light Blues are in the market for strikers.
But with the Sam Lammers deal and the Cyriel Dessers pursuit apparently taking precedence right now Maja is not currently the priority.
The report says: “Football Scotland understands the player is not currently at the top of the shortlist within the recruitment circles in Glasgow but his name has previously mentioned and things move fast.
“Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers are the two strikers Michael Beale and his staff are aiming to sign right now amid their promised squad overhaul.”
Fallback
If there has been genuine interest in Maja at Ibrox over the past few months then it is certain they will be at least investigating a move now that he will cost nothing.
Clearly, Michael Beale is pushing for Lammers and Dessers, and the pair together won’t be cheap even if they would be a lot cheaper than they were not long ago.
So if one or the other doesn’t get over the line the latest update suggests a pivot to Maja could still happen.
The future at Rangers of Croatian forward Antonio Colak remains up in the air, so should an offer come in for him to leave this summer that would be another reason why a third forward might be needed.
Despite the fast start to the summer transfer business there is plenty still to do, and all the answers likely won’t become clear for a few weeks yet at the earliest.
The door has opened for a Maja pursuit right at the time when Rangers appear to be on the brink of pushing moves through for two players at the same position, so whether it is bad timing or Beale isn’t sold on the former Sunderland man, it appears an approach isn’t imminent yet.
In other Rangers news, there is a “strong chance” that a veteran first-team ace leaves this summer despite contract talks being revealed.