A Rangers suggestion has emerged on Fashion Sakala’s situation at Ibrox in the summer transfer window…
What’s the talk?
When asked about why there has been speculation over the striker’s future, journalist Pete O’Rourke suggested that the player may be angling for a transfer.
The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell recently claimed that the attacker looks set to stay in Glasgow after Burnley pulled out of a move, having been willing to pay up to £4m for him before looking elsewhere.
O’Rourke told ThisIsFutbol: “I think it’s probably maybe more Sakala’s looking for an exit.
“He’s maybe seen his path to the first team at Ibrox blocked with the incomings this summer of Colak and the boy from Germany who’s of Bayern Munich, Tillman. So maybe he’s thinking he might not get many first-team opportunities at the club this year.
“Maybe he thinks best to go out and play regular first-team football.”
Sale must be sanctioned
Light Blues head coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst should consider changing his mind and allowing Sakala to leave the club, whether that is to Burnley or elsewhere.
Should Sakala be sold?
O’Rourke is only speculating on his intentions but the summer business, the start to the season, and the speculation around the striker suggest that a move could be best for all parties involved.
Sakala has been an unused substitute in four of the club’s five competitive matches this term, whilst failing to make the bench in the 2-0 win over Kilmarnock
The £8.3k-per-week winger, who can also play up front, has been behind Tom Lawrence, Antonio Colak, Alfredo Morelos, Malik Tillman, Rabbi Matondo, Scott Arfield, Scott Wright and Ryan Kent in the pecking order to play in the attack. This is with Ianis Hagi and Kemar Roofe out injured, who could potentially push him further down in the running.
Four of the aforementioned players arrived in the summer and that suggests that van Bronckhorst was keen to improve his options at the top end of the pitch.
This has left Sakala unable to get any minutes in all competitions this season and there has been no sign of that situation changing, particularly with new signings Tilmann, Matondo, and Colak all being involved in goals at the weekend.
Keeping a player who may not want to stay and is currently surplus to requirements, based on van Bronckhorst’s selections, does not seem like a shrewd decision when a £4m sale could have been on the cards.
Therefore, the Dutch head coach should now consider cashing in on the Zambian attacker and reinvesting the money in other areas of the squad.
