Rangers are not yet out of the race to sign Swansea City striker Joel Piroe with a move to Serie A outfit Salernitana reportedly stalling.
It’s probably safe to say Joel Piroe would benefit from a bit of clarity.
According to TuttoSalernitana, a prospective switch to Italy has ‘totally stalled’ this week. Rangers, linked via Football League World back in March, are pressing ahead in pursuit of both Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers.
As for Swansea, Piroe’s current employers could see their much-admired head coach – the one-time Ibrox centre-back Russell Martin – up sticks and head for Southampton in the very near future.
Swansea City striker Joel Piroe on Rangers radar
Piroe is Martin’s go-to goalscorer at the Liberty Stadium last term. In fact, during two seasons in South Wales, the former PSV Eindhoven youngster has found the net 42 times. Not bad, given that Swansea have spent the majority of Piroe’s Championship career in mid-table, at best.
Few at Swansea would begrudge him the opportunity to showcase his lethal finishing skills on a far greater stage. Like Italy’s Serie A, for example.
Ambitious Salernitana are currently in no position to test the Swans’ resolve, however, having recently invested £15 million turning the loans of Boulaye Dia and Lorenzo Pirola into permanent transfers. With much of their budget eaten up already, Salernitana’s only hope of landing Piroe this summer may depend on whether Swansea are willing to accept an initial temporary deal.
Rangers, meanwhile, should confirm Atalanta misfit Lammers as their fourth summer signing on Wednesday. With a £3 million fee agreed, Piroe’s fellow Dutchman is packing his bags and preparing for a medical.
A deal for fellow marksman Dessers is also progressing nicely; Calciomercato reporting that Rangers are ‘very close’ to sealing a deal for an initial £4.2 million after Cremonese were relegated to Serie B.
With Antonio Colak and Kemar Roofe also still at Ibrox – as things stand anyway – it feels unlikely that Rangers will step up their interest in Piroe unless one of their current forward departs. Or, for that matter, should a deal for Lammers or Dessers fall through.
