Rangers will be making changes to the forward line in the summer with Philippe Clement already showing what sort of player he might be targeting.
Oscar Cortes and Fabio Silva are both quick, athletic and hard working, meeting the Gers boss’ template for a more youthful and dynamic squad.
There has been nothing on whether or not the duo will return on in the summer but there is one Rangers-linked striker who could offer a cut-price alternative to Kemar Roofe, who is expected to leave Ibrox.
Rangers won’t have a better chance if they want Oli McBurnie
For years, Rangers were said to be interested in Oli McBurnie with one report going as far as to say that a £4m bid had been offered to Swansea for his services after the Scotland striker had impressed on loan at Barnsley.
One season later and the now 27-year old had signed for Sheffield United for £20m.
The rumours about a potential bid must have been accurate though and the latest news regarding his Blades contract might see his name lingering on a striker watchlist.
That, and the players’ own desire to play for The Famous.
Speaking to Open Goal in 2020, Oli McBurnie recalled when a holiday meeting arranged by his agent with new Rangers manager Steven Gerrard didn’t go quite to plan but how his mind was made up there and then.
“I am on an all-dayer with Greegsy (Allan McGregor) and the next morning I’ve woke up and went ‘I need to go to that hotel and meet Gerrard’.
“I’ve gone and I am hanging out my arse. I am waiting in reception for Gerrard’s receptionist to come down and just before she has come down I’ve had to run to the toilet and throw up.
“Just as I have walked back from the toilet his assistant is waiting for me in reception saying ‘I can go to the room now’. I’ve got puke all around my nose and all that.”
“When I walked out that room I rang my agent and said ‘I want to play for him. It’s Stevie G, it’s Rangers’.
“Things happen. You know what football is like mate, and I ended up signing a new deal at Swansea and ever since then it’s been a bit financially out of the question.”
McBurnie had a prolific period in Swansea’s youth team, then out on loan at Barnsley which earned him a place in the Swan’s first-team.
His scoring form continued and a big money move was earned.
Things haven’t quite gone to plan at Sheffield United though and has a goal contribution rate of roughly one every four games, yes, he has played in a team that struggled to score goals in three Premier League seasons but it’s not exactly encouraging.
Not that manager Chris Wilder is put off wanting to keep him at Bramall Lane, as told to The Sheffield Star:
“Oli is one we would love to keep, but he’s out of contract and there’s a reason why players run their contracts down. That gives them the power, so unfortunately we’re not in a powerful position with a few players.
“We have to respect they’re in that position and can choose where they want to go and play their football next year. We’ve basically left it towards the end of the season to see how it all pans out.”
Here’s a thought.
If you could sell Cyriel Dessers for what we paid and replace him with Oli McBurnie on a free knowing that you had Danilo and another frontline forward to choose from, would you take the deal?
With five goals and three assists in 17 Premier League games this season, he is contributing at a decent rate in terms of minutes played.
However, as we’ve seen from Philippe Clement in January, Rangers are heading in a new direction and, even on a free transfer, it looks as though Oli McBurnie’s chances of a dream move to G51 are long gone.
If he hadn’t turned up hungover to his meeting with Gerrard, it might already have been a reality.
