Rangers have received a boost in their bid to sign Jonson Clarke-Harris from Peterborough United, according to a Daily Record report.
Peterborough director of football Barry Fry claimed in March that the Gers had been scouting the powerful forward [Peterborough Telegraph] and a Bristol Live report then credited Rangers and several English clubs, including Sheffield United and West Brom, with interest.
Bournemouth reportedly had a £5m bid rejected by Peterborough in January and Clarke-Harris has only added to his value since then, by firing the Posh to promotion from EFL League One.
He scored a whopping 33 goals in 48 appearances over the course of the season, including a brace in a dramatic 3-3 draw in the penultimate league game which sealed their Championship status.
It’s by no means certain that the 26-year-old will change clubs this summer, with Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony recently pointing to his contract until 2024 to suggest that a stay is possible.
However, the same figure also previously claimed that the Posh couldn’t compete with other interested clubs in terms of wages [Hull Live].
The Daily Record reports that Rangers have received a boost in the race, as a transfer to another EFL club ‘appears a long shot due to strict rules on financial fair play’.
Comments from Stoke manager Michael O’Neill are then used to support the claim.
“It will be difficult for us to bring players in permanently because of Financial Fair Play,” he said. “We know we’re not going to make massive changes to the squad because we’ll be somewhat hindered by that but we will hopefully add key players in the right areas to hopefully help us.”
“We have to streamline the squad first of all to give us the best chance of getting the best players in to help us improve.”
It’s asserted that this issue could knock a number of sides out of the race, improving Rangers’ chances of success.
The Gers already have Fashion Sakala and Jermain Defoe signed up for next season, while Alfredo Morelos, Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten are all also under contract.
As long as none of those players are sold between now and the start of the season, there’s an argument that no further forwards are required.
Prolific players like Clarke-Harris don’t become available that often, though, and while he would likely cost above £5m, he would bring guaranteed goals to Ibrox.