Rangers’ need to bolster their front line is clear and Kyle Lafferty has been linked with a move to Ibrox in recent days.
However, the Daily Record claims that, while the Gers have had one bid rejected to bring the Northern Irishman back to Glasgow, they are relaxed about bidding again, despite their £200k offer falling short of Hearts’ £750,000 valuation of the striker.
While bringing Lafferty back to Ibrox would undoubtedly be an exciting signing as Steven Gerrard looks to put together a team capable of closing the gap on Celtic this season, his patience in negotiations brings up the possibility that alternative forward targets will emerge in the coming days.
So, we have decided to take a look at three other front men that Gerrard could turn to if the Lafferty deal is not possible on Rangers’ terms…
Eddie Nketiah – Arsenal
19-year-old striker Nketiah burst on to the scene at the Emirates Stadium last season with two goals in a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Norwich City in the League Cup, and he made three Premier League appearances under Arsene Wenger after that.
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However, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Lucas Perez and Danny Welbeck all potentially ahead of him in the pecking order, and new Gunners boss Unai Emery under intense pressure to hit the ground running, a loan move looks to represent Nketiah’s best chance of developing further.
He has lightening pace, an eye for goal and surprising maturity for his age, so he would be an exciting addition to the Rangers ranks.
Jamie Maclaren – Darmstadt
Football Nation Radio report that 25-year-old Australian striker Maclaren could be set to return to his native league, with a switch to Melbourne Victory after a successful spell on loan at Hibernian last season.
That temporary spell in Scotland showed Rangers up close what he is capable of, as Maclaren bagged a hat-trick in the 5-5 draw on the final day of last season.
That experience of Scottish football would be a major boost for Gerrard, as he needs his raft of new signings to hit the ground running in order to put Celtic under early pressure.
Dominic Solanke – Liverpool
Of course, Gerrard has already utilised his Liverpool connections to get tricky wide man Ryan Kent to move north of the border on a season-long loan, and those links make an ambitious move for Solanke a realistic one.
The England international is the kind of towering, prolific striker Rangers fans would love if he can get his confidence and match sharpness up, and that will only come with regular game time.
He would get that at Ibrox and, if he can realise the potential that made him so highly-rated at Chelsea, he could genuinely be a 20-goal striker in Scotland.