Rangers are likely to bring a new striker to Ibrox this summer.
The Daily Mirror has claimed that Everton striker Shani Tarashaj could be one of 12 players to leave Goodison Park this summer in a ruthless cull to reduce the club’s bloated squad – and Rangers should take advantage.
Tarashaj is just one of a number of names on the list, including senior players such as Wayne Rooney, Ashley Williams and Yannick Bolasie, outcasts like Davy Klaassen, Sandro Ramirez and Luke Garbutt and many more.
A five-time Switzerland international, Tarashaj has perhaps been unfairly overlooked on Merseyside after joining the club from Swiss giants Grasshopper in January 2016.
He is yet to make a first-team appearance for The Toffees, instead featuring for the club’s Under-23 side. But the striker’s calibre is a lot larger than just an outcast playing for a reserve side.
Indeed, Tarashaj was loaned to Eintracht Frankfurt during the 2016-17 season, in which he made 15 appearances for the Bundesliga side under Niko Kovac – who has since been appointed Bayern Munich’s new manager.
Though 13 of those appearances were from the bench, Tarashaj showed just what he is capable of when given the chance and even scored once in a 3-0 win over Hamburg – despite being played out wide and even in the number 10 role.
Rangers could do with a new striker, with duo Jason Cummings and Ryan Hardie set to leave Ibrox. Cummings is expected to rejoin Nottingham Forest after his loan spell, while Hardie’s contract has expired.
That leaves only Alfredo Morelos as Steven Gerrard’s choices up front, with Josh Windass preferred in the number 10 role. Signing a striker is crucial, then.
Tarashaj should be high on Gerrard’s shortlist in a move that would see Rangers discover an unearthed gem in a 23-year-old striker that is bursting to show just what he can do.
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