Andre Gray, as quoted by the Express, has hinted he intends to stay at Watford next season.
Last month, the Glasgow Evening Times reported Rangers were considering an attempt to bring the 27-year-old striker to Ibrox on loan.
Gray notched seven goals and two assists in 29 Premier League appearances this season.
January’s swoop for Jermain Defoe has shown us that the unlikely is possible under Steven Gerrard. However, given the forward’s considerable involvement with the Hornets this season, it would seem unlikely they would be willing to let the £13.5m-rated [Transfermarkt] forward leave.
Things might be easier if the player himself was looking for a new challenge. Yet, comments made following Watford’s FA Cup final defeat to Man City suggest Gray wants to push on at Vicarage Road.
“We got blown away today and we just want to forget about it”, he said, as quoted by the Express. “But sometimes you’ve got to lose to win. That’s how we need to take it now and come back next year a lot stronger.”
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“We just need to try and step up and push on from there next season.
“We need to build a core now and stick with the core of this squad…we need to add players and we will obviously lose players. But it’s important to keep the core of this group. We have a good spirit there now and it’s important to keep that.
Verdict
These are hardly the words of a player scrambling for the exit door.
Despite the 6-0 FA Cup hammering, he clearly believes things are going in the right direction at Watford and he sees himself as part of that going forward.
Plenty could still change over the coming months, but this was always a long shot for Rangers.
Reinforcements in the final third are needed. Yet, Gerrard may need to look elsewhere than Vicarage Road, in order to find them.
