Speaking recently on the Blues Brothers Podcast, Ian Durrant discussed some of Rangers’ potential transfer targets this summer, and in particular, Bordeaux striker Josh Maja.
Maja, who played for Fulham, Crystal Palace, Manchester City and Sunderland at youth level, before making his Sunderland first-team debut as a 17-year-old back in 2016, going on to score 17 goals in 49 appearances for the North East side – moved to Bordeaux in what was a £1.53 million deal in January 2019.
Since then, the 21-year-old has gone on to score nine goals and provide three assists in 31 appearances for the Ligue 1 side, with his value rocketing to £5.67 million from £225k upon his move to France.
And, Ian Durrant recently claimed on the Blues Brothers Podcast that he would like to see Rangers bring in a centre-forward this summer – in relation to reports that the club’s current star striker, Alfredo Morelos, has ‘agreed terms‘ with Lille – with Maja being one of his picks for an incoming deal.
Discussing Rangers’ potential targets this summer, he said: “There’s a few down south [England], a few names that have been branded about, possible loan deals, but I’d like [Rangers to] go and buy a centre-forward. They’ve got money, just make sure it’s the right centre-forward that comes in.
“We don’t know until it’s official, it’s just paper talk assuming Morelos has gone to Lille, but maybe there are other interested parties.
“Maja – he’s been one that’s been scouted, I think. He could be a potentially great signing – great age and playing in a top-class league. That’s the sort of player you want to see come to the club.”
TIF Thoughts…
While Maja does indeed seem to possess great potential, having already scored 26 goals at a professional level while being just 21-years-old, it would seem that he is some way off being a direct replacement for Morelos’ goals, with the 24-year-old having scored 77 goals and provided 29 assists in his 137 appearances for Rangers.
Would you like to see Rangers make a move for Maja this summer?
Yes
No
Having said this, it is certainly not our belief that Maja would be a bad signing for Gers in any way, just that expectations should be slightly tempered due to the striker’s young age.