OPINION
Rangers have surely been handed a big boost in their pursuit of Watford striker Andre Gray after it was reported that chairman Dave King is ready to greenlight a marquee signing in the summer.
According to reliable news website Football Insider, King is ready to free up some funds so that manager Steven Gerrard can make a “top-quality and expensive addition” to his squad.
It is understood that Gerrard would also be able to offer out “Premier League-style” wages to a potential major signing.
Gray, 27, is someone who has been linked with a summer move to Rangers with the Evening Times reporting in April that the Gers are plotting a swoop to sign the centre-forward on loan as they aim to find someone new to spearhead their bid to win the 2019/20 Scottish Premiership title.
The former Luton and Burnley striker is no doubt someone who would flourish in Scotland’s top-flight after scoring nine goals in 34 appearances across all competitions for FA Cup runners-up Watford this season.
Gray found the back of the net against the likes of Manchester United, Everton, Leicester and Wolves, so there is no doubt that he could fire on all cylinders against teams such as Hamilton, St Johnstone, Hearts, Kilmarnock and – maybe – Celtic.
One issue at the time of that Evening Times report was that it was hard to see Rangers being able to afford Gray’s wages.
Statistics website Spotrac reports that the Premier League striker earns £70,000-a-week on a deal he signed when he joined Watford for £18million two years ago.
Rangers would definitely struggle to come anywhere near to matching those wages, but Football Insider’s report about King now means that covering at least a fraction of his salary could be something that is on the cards in the summer.
It is unlikely that the Light Blues would have to pay 100 per cent of Gray’s wages, but at least a good chunk of them would no doubt make it easier to strike a loan deal with Watford and sign the Englishman as a potential replacement for Alfredo Morelos.
Rangers could actually go and beat Celtic to domestic honours if they sign a Premier League-level striker like Gray and being able to afford him is surely half of the battle being won.