The president of Ligue 1 Montpellier has been discussing Rangers-linked Josh Maja as a potential replacement for first-choice striker Elye Wahi amid links to Arsenal.
Montpellier chief Laurent Nicollin has been discussing the club’s striking situation with the Ligue 1 outfit potentially set to lose the influence of 19-goal Elye Wahi amid £25m (€30m) links to the likes of Arsenal.
And the Ligue 1 president directly mentioned Josh Maja alongside a range of other options when discussing the situation in the French press.
However, Nicollin didn’t confirm nor deny any interest in the Bordeaux forward, who has been extensively linked to Rangers with his contract set to expire come the end of the month.
Montpellier president namedrops Josh Maja
The news comes amid claims that former Montpellier striker Andy Delort is open for a return to the club, the Algerian striker having just spent the season on loan at Nantes from OGC Nice.
The Montpellier president also made mention of out-of-contract St Etienne striker Jean-Phillipe Krasso, who we’ve previously looked at with regards Rangers, as well as Georgian forward Georges Mikautadze, who fired Metz to Ligue 1 promotion at the expense of Maja’s Bordeaux.
“It’s no police secret that Andy (Delort) contacted me and that he would like to come back,” said Nicollin.
“Yes he called me a while ago because he would like to come back to Montpellier but I think that there are too many things that have happened, too many complicated things.
“I think that in life you have to think ahead. Mikautadze, Maja and Krasso? Of the three players, we were offered two.
“Mikautadze is a player who was offered to us but in view of the transfer amount, it is impossible for us to take him.
“For the other two, you have to ask the recruitment unit, not me… I’m not here to make a player appeal to me, but to perform well. If he can be friendly, it’s not so bad, but I want him to be good on the pitch above all.”
Rangers tailing three new strikers?
The comments come at a time when Josh Maja is once again being mentioned alongside Rangers, the Ibrox side’s apparent interest noted by Nigerian publication Bold Sports.
However, it is not clear if this report is based on the wide-spread earlier reporting linking Rangers to the striker or if it nods to a substantial development in any Ibrox interest in the 24-year-old Nigerian international forward.
It does however appear that Montpellier were offered either Jean-Phillipe Krasso or Josh Maja heading into next season, with the situation potentially dependent on the future of Arsenal-linked 20-year-old Elye Wahi.
Rangers have also been extensively linked to a double Serie A swoop this summer, with reports over the weekend claiming the club have stepped up their interest in Atalanta forward Sam Lammers.
The Ibrox side have also been extensively linked with a move for Belgian-born Nigerian striker Cyriel Dessers, who has just been relegated to Serie B with Cremonese in Italy.
Could Josh Maja genuinely be a third striking option as the club look to add firepower to their ranks next season?
