In a possible transfer blow for Rangers, reported target Britt Assombalonga has joined Turkish Super Lig club Adana Demirspor.
The Gers were first credited with interest in Assombalonga in March, with Give Me Sport asserting that Ross Wilson was eyeing up a potential pre-contract swoop, although it was noted that there was also interest in the then Middlesbrough striker from unnamed clubs in France and Belgium.
Boro boss Neil Warnock then made it clear that the 28-year-old – who cost £15m when he joined the club from Nottingham Forest in 2017 [Nottinghamshire Live] – would be leaving the Riverside in the summer when his contract expired.
He was subsequently dropped from the Boro team and in April, TEAMtalk claimed that Rangers were closing in on a deal.
The trail went a little cold after that, though, and he’s now officially moved elsewhere.
The DR Congo international has headed for Turkey, joining newly-promoted Super Lig club Adana Demirspor on a three-year contract.
Demirspor are clearly keen to make considerable improvements to the squad ahead of their first season back in the top flight and Morocco international Younes Belhanda has also been recruited from Galatasaray.
It’s likely that Assombalonga was offered excellent terms in order to help convince him to make the first move abroad of his career.
It appears to be a blow for the Gers, given that they were said to be close to getting a deal over the line a few months ago.
Assombalonga is a powerful operator with 131 senior club goals to his name, but he does have something to prove after only netting five times in 32 appearances last season and Rangers are currently well stocked up front with Alfredo Morelos, Kemar Roofe, Fashion Sakala, Cedric Itten and Jermain Defoe all on the books.
