Once Rangers-linked ex-Hearts striker Ellis Simms is set to join up with another one-time Gers target in Ross Stewart with newly promoted Championship side Sunderland.
That’s according to the likes of the Northern Echo, who’re reporting that the Black Cats have held off competition from the Jambos and Blackpool to sign the 21-year-old Everton striker on loan.
Simms had impressed during a six-month stint with Hearts last season and the move for the robust forward will bolster a frontline which also includes Scotland international Stewart.
Premiership rivals Hearts – who recently signed ex-Beerschot striker Lawrence Shankland – will be disappointed to miss out on Ellis Simms.
Rangers had been linked with a move for Ellis Simms earlier in the window as the Ibrox club searched for a third striker option behind Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe.
The news was broke by the 4th official who claimed that Simms was being considered as a potential option at Ibrox if other targets could not be secured.
This came after Rangers had been extensively linked with a move for Ross Stewart earlier in the window, the 26-year-old forward enjoying a fine season in English League One last year.
In total Stewart netted 26 league goals for Sunderland last season and there had been some suggestion Rangers might make a move for the ex-Ross County man in this window.
But whilst both players may well have been on some form of Rangers shortlist, the Ibrox club clearly opted to look elsewhere in the striker hunt.
Rangers linked Ellis Simms to Sunderland as Gers move elsewhere
The Gers spent a reported £1.8m to bring Croatian international forward Antonio Colak to the club from Greek outfit PAOK and now the pressure is on the big man to deliver in the early part of the season.
Still, we suspect the ex-Malmo man has slightly broader shoulders than both Ellis Simms and Ross Stewart in this regard and Rangers fans will be hoping the forward can fire the club to the Champions League this season.
It’d certainly make a change from breaking our hearts in the last qualification campaign.
Meanwhile, an ex-Man United kid has been opening up on his Rangers ambitions after being spotted at an open Ibrox training day.