Rangers choosing reported target Umar Sadiq over Cummings is a promising sign

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Scottish Premiership side Rangers could have re-signed Nottingham Forest’s Jason Cummings but are thinking bigger with Roma ace Sadiq.

Rangers are allegedly getting ever closer to the signing of Roma striker Umar Sadiq.

The 21-year-old Nigerian has been linked with a move to Ibrox for weeks, with the Scottish Sun claiming that they were prepared to pay a six-figure sum to land him on a season-long loan.

And reports in the Daily Record (live blog, 7.24am) now states that Sadiq has agreed a temporary move to Ibrox and a deal could be completed before the Europa League qualifying clash against Shkupi on Thursday.

But have Rangers made the right call pursuing a deal for Sadiq rather than attempting to bring Jason Cummings back to Ibrox? If Rangers wanted to sign Cummings, they probably would not have faced much difficulty. The Sunderland Echo suggests that the £1 million-rated 22-year-old has no future at Nottingham Forest and will be allowed to leave this summer.

Cummings spent the second half of last season on loan at Rangers but struggled, scoring just six goals in 18 games in all competitions and failing to dislodge Alfredo Morelos despite the Colombian’s dramatic dip in form.

Re-signing Cummings on the cheap would have been the easy option. But Rangers’ decision to pursue a risky and expensive loan deal for Sadiq instead shows bravery and ambition.

While Cummings is a proven goal-scorer in Scotland’s second tier, Sadiq is a far more rounded striker who, while a raw talent, has the potential to really take the Premiership by storm.

Rangers have certainly made a statement this summer, and the impending singing of Sadiq is another step towards putting the mediocrity of last season behind them.