Glasgow Rangers are leading the race to sign KV Oostende striker Fashion Sakala this summer.

What's the word?

The 23-year-old is widely expected to leave the Belgian side and a host of sides are interested in taking him.

According to The Sun's Alan Nixon, Rangers are front-runners and they hope to agree a pre-contract move for the talented Zambian.

Sakala only joined Oostende from Spartak Moscow back in 2018 but has seen his value skyrocket after catching the eye with a string of impressive performances.

A number of Championship clubs and Ligue 1 leaders Lille are among the other sides understood to be interested.

Huge boost for Steven Gerrard?

There's no doubt this fresh transfer news will be a significant boost for Steven Gerrard. The Zambia international is a sought after talents across European football, with Gerrard keen to bring him to Ibrox.

It seems Sakala - who is currently valued at £1m via Transfermarkt - is ready to take the step up after scoring 13 goals and assisting three more in 24 Jupiler Pro League appearances this season, and he is available to talk to clubs about a free transfer.

Gerrard's tactics may be a little more complex than Alexander Blessin's, but just like the German, the Rangers manager also likes to play on the counter where possible, releasing the likes of Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and Kemar Roofe in behind.

With Borna Barisic and James Tavernier pinging balls in from the left and right, Sakala could really excel in this system, as his uncanny ability to find the back of the net, coupled with his solid dribbling, means that he could help Rangers flat-track bully mid-table and lower-level opposition.

A return of 13 goals sees him rank sixth in the Jupiler Pro League, that being the sixth-best of all strikers in a leaderboard topped by Ianis Hagi's former teammate Paul Onuachu. For context, that's more league goals more than Morelos and Jermain Defoe have managed between them in the Scottish Premiership this season.

By the numbers, he would top the charts out of the entire Rangers squad for the number of shots taken (3 per 90), he would be oint-eighth with Ryan Jack for key passes made per game (1), and fourth for dribbles attempted per game (1), which shows he could give the Gers plenty of impetus in the offensive end.

Rangers, therefore, should look to wrap up a deal for the striker as soon as possible by way of a Bosman move.

AND in other news, Joe Aribo was superb for Rangers against Dundee...