The Daily Record reports that Buriram United of Thailand have opened talks with Rangers’ Kyle Lafferty.
The 31-year-old is surplus to requirements at Ibrox, having been excluded from the club’s pre-season trip to Portugal.
It’s suggested that the reigning Thai champions have already had an offer rejected by Lafferty.
However, that initial response from the Northern Irishman hasn’t put them off. It’s suggested that although that first offer already blows Lafferty’s current deal ‘out of the water’, they are to come back to the table with an even bigger proposal.
It’s said that Buriram want a big and physical striker as they seek success in the Asian Champions League.
Verdict
It’s time for Lafferty to move on after a disappointing return to Ibrox. Of course, he is no stranger to playing outside of the UK. He’s had stints in Italy, Turkey and Switzerland – as yet, though, he hasn’t ventured outside Europe.
This would be a bizarre move for the big forward, despite the money on the table.
There’s almost no precedent for British players heading to play club football in Southeast Asia. Admittedly, Buriram are high achievers, given they are currently back at the top of Thai League 1.
Lafferty is reportedly subject to interest in Cyprus [Scottish Sun] and the Middle East [Sunday Life print edition 30/06/2019], too. Should he choose to head to Thailand, though, he’d pretty much be venturing into the unknown.
