Rangers may have been handed a boost in their pursuit of a new striker with Jerry Yates suffering relegation from the Championship at Blackpool.
If it wasn’t for their late-blooming number nine, it’s unlikely The Tangerines would have survived quite this long. With 14 goals and four assists – 15 and six in all competitions – Yates is a major reason why Blackpool managed to stave off the drop until the final week of the season, their demotion only confirmed on Saturday afternoon following a 3-2 defeat to Millwall.
According to The Sun’s Alan Nixon, Rangers have scouted the one-time Swindon Town frontman throughout much of the campaign. Their interest dates back to 2022.
Blackpool reportedly wanted around £5 million when the links first emerged. Now, Steven Dobbie’s side may be forced to accept a reduced fee. Perhaps one in line with the £2 million sum Rangers are allegedly willing to stump up for a man also on the radar of, amongst others, West Bromwich Albion.
Will Rangers snap up Blackpool striker Jerry Yates now?
“He’s good at everything,” Yates’ former Swindon coach Richie Wellens tells the EFL Highlights Show. “He has got decent pace, he can hold the ball up.
“He’s a fantastic professional that wants to get everything out of his career.”
Rangers boss Mick Beale, meanwhile, has spoken openly about his desire for attacking reinforcements at Ibrox. Alfredo Morelos is due to depart in July when his contract expires
“I think I’ll have a clearer picture in the summer,” Beale told the Scottish Sun at the end of January.
“I’d like to bring another ‘number nine’ in who is different to the ones we’ve got. I’ve got my eye on a target who is probably not available right now. But (he) will be in the summer.”
Whether he was referring to Yates is anyone’s guess.
But, while Blackpool would have fought tooth and nail to keep Yates at Bloomfield Road in the winter, they may now be facing up to the prospect of life in League One without their top scorer.
