Josh Maja is already making a quite ‘brilliant’ impact at West Brom after Rangers missed out on the chance to sign the former Sunderland striker this summer.
Brought in from French football after his contract at Bordeaux expired in July, it falls upon Josh Maja to break West Brom’s striker curse.
The likes of Daryl Dike and Kenneth Zohore have seen their West Brom careers ruined by injury. But, if Maja can stay fit while rediscovering the form that made him such a big hit across the Channel, you can probably expect to see Carlos Corberan’s Albion side throw their hat into the ring for a play-off spot over the next few months; a reliable centre-forward the difference between a top-six finish and one in mid-table.
“We have been training together the last few days. You can see that (the new signings) help the team,” new West Brom team-mate Okay Yokuslu tells the Birmingham Mail.
“Maja in training has been brilliant. I’m looking forward to playing with him.”
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Rangers wanted West Brom striker Josh Maja
Rangers, according to Rangers Review, showed an interest in Maja too before he put pen to paper at the Hawthorns. Any disappointment at missing out on the London-born Nigeria international – scorer of 17 goals in all competitions during 2022/23 – was at least offset by the arrivals of Cyriel Dessers, Danilo, Sam Lammers and Abdallah Sima; four new faces transforming Mick Beale’s frontline.
Danilo, perhaps the most exciting of the lot given his past at Ajax and Feyenoord, is starting to repay Rangers’ £5 million investment already, opening his Premiership account after being shifted into a more central role by Beale in Saturday’s 4-0 hammering of Livingston.
“I have been watching him (Danilo). He is one signing I was excited about,” Rangers legend Barry Ferguson tells Go Radio.
“He’s not been at it (so far) but he’s been playing in a position he hasn’t played much throughout his career. When he went through the middle (against Livingston) and (Borna) Barisic swung in a brilliant ball, his movement between the two defenders and stuck his header away brilliantly.
“He looked a different player when through the middle.”
Danilo will be hoping to add to his tally against Servette in tonight’s Champions League qualifier.