Rangers are interested in signing Bordeaux striker Josh Maja in the summer but have suffered a fresh blow in their pursuit of the 24-year-old.
What’s the latest on Rangers’ interest in Josh Maja?
According to Football Insider, the Gers want to make a move for Maja with his contract expiring at the end of the season but it has now been understood that the Bordeaux can extend his deal by a further year if they get promoted into Ligue 1.
As it stands, the French outfit are in second place in Ligue 2, seven points behind league leaders Le Havre and one point above Sochaux with the top two teams moving into the top flight at the end of the campaign.
Alongside Rangers, teams across Europe and in the Championship are keeping an eye on the situation around the Nigeria international.
Who is Josh Maja?
Maja has been in excellent form this season, scoring 12 goals in 28 appearances to help his side battle for promotion. Last time out, the former Sunderland loanee scored the only goal against Nîmes Olympique to secure Bordeaux’s third win in five matches and retain their point advantage over Sochaux.
The only player to score 10 or more goals for the club this season, with Dilane Bakwa the closest to him on five, the £10k-per-week forward has scored 31% of their goals and has netted the fourth-highest number of goals in Ligue 2.
Prior to making the move to France in 2019, Maja had scored 15 goals in 24 League One games for Sunderland. He then made a loan move to the Premier League side Fulham in 2021, where he found the net on three occasions, before a short spell at Stoke City.
Should Rangers make the move?
As per the report, Gers boss Michael Beale will be looking to strengthen his attack in the summer.
The Light Blues could lose both Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos, with their contracts expiring at the end of the season, meaning that the 42-year-old will have to find a way to replace 24 goal contributions that the pair have put up combined so far this term.
With Bordeaux still just a point above third-place Sochaux, there is still no guarantee that they will get over the line and gain promotion, meaning that Maja could still be available on a free transfer when his contract expires.
Once lauded as “clinical” by manager David Guion, the striker has averaged an impressive 7.05 rating this campaign and has scored every 175 minutes, via Sofascore. That is a slower rate than Rangers’ top scorer Antonio Colak (a goal every 107 minutes), but as a backup striker with a market value of just €4m (£3.5m), he is an affordable option even if his contract is extended.