Fashion Sakala transfer option as Rangers set to give Auxerre 'loan request' short shrift

Rangers have reportedly received an approach from Auxerre to take forward Fashion Sakala on loan next season as they prepare for their return to Ligue 1.

The 25-year-old returned a respectable tally of nine goals in 13 league starts for Rangers since his move last summer from Oostende, and ended the campaign with an appearance in the Europa League final and a Scottish Cup winners medal. Gio van Bronckhorst is keen to add to his frontline this summer as talks remain ongoing with PAOK over striker Antonio Colak.

Ahead of the Croatia international's potential arrival at Ibrox, reports in France suggest Auxerre have made a bid to land the Zambia cap on loan for next season. After securing promotion in the Ligue 2 playoff last season, Homme du Match claim that boss Jean-Marc Furlan is a big man of Sakala.

However, the report notes that Rangers are not likely to allow the attacker to leave Ibrox this summer. They claim that despite "limited playing time" that Van Bronckhorst has "high hopes" for Sakala next season.

Sakala has previously stated that he hopes to build on his debut campaign in the Scottish Premiership next term. Speaking to the Zambian press earlier this summer, he said: "I think in my first season, it has been good, but I could have done better.

"The only way to make it better next season is to keep on working extra hard. Personally, I think I can be more consistent and that can only come through hard work."

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