SAKALA U-TURN

Zambian star’s £3m switch to Saudi is back on after fresh talks on future

SAUDI ARABIAN club Al-Fayha have resurrected their £3million move for Rangers striker Fashion Sakala.

The Zambian international turned down a big-money move to the Saudi Pro League last week despite the two clubs reaching agreement on a fee.

Left out of the travelling squad for the weekend pre-season trip to Hoffenheim, the 26-year-old has now been told he is free to go. And Al-Fayha are now stepping up their efforts to persuade Sakala after returning to the table.

Manager Michael Beale has signed eight new players ahead of the Premiership kick-off at Kilmarnock on Saturday.

And, after spending £13million on strikers Danilo, Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers and Abdallah Sima, Sakala

has been warned that his first-team options are limited if he stays. Winger Scott Wright recently flew to Turkey for talks with Pendikspor, returning without signing terms. Midfielder Glen Kamara is also training on his own and set to leave Ibrox. Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd has expressed surprise at the willingness of his old club to let Sakala leave. Promoting coverage of the SPFL Premiership on Sky Sports, Boyd said: ‘Sakala is an interesting one. I’ve been vocal when he was playing as a No 9 that he wasn’t an out-and-out striker. But I’d be reluctant to let him go or sell him. ‘I get Rangers have brought in a lot of forwards and might be looking to get money in, but he brings something different. A lot of the time he doesn’t know what he’s going to do, so there’s no way defenders will know. His pace terrorises defenders. ‘Scott Wright has done well considering where he came from and the number of games he’s played. ‘With Glen Kamara, it seems to have been ongoing for months that he’s going to leave the club. You imagine it would be time, especially with reports saying he’s been told to stay away until he finds something else. ‘You get the feeling Rangers will have to try and force a few out the door, but it’s easier said than done when players are on bigger contracts. Once you get to that level, you can become pretty comfortable, pretty content, and that might be the case with a lot of them. ‘You’d hope the guys linked with moves want to go play regular football and then everyone’s a winner, but it’s not as easy as a lot of people think.’ Boyd, meanwhile, has warned a new-look Rangers that Celtic will show them no mercy if they fail to hit the ground running. ‘Patience is key. It’s easy to say that but the reality is you don’t get it,’ he said. ‘And if we’re honest, Ange Postecoglou at the start of his time at Celtic was probably one more defeat away from everybody turning on him. ‘For whatever reason, though, Rangers allowed his side to get back into that title race two years ago and Celtic kicked on from there. ‘Do I think Rangers can afford to do the same? No, because this Celtic team is a well-oiled machine. ‘In saying all that, I don’t think Rangers need to hit the ground running as such. The fixtures have been kind to them and they’ve got the first Old Firm at home, which I always thought was crucial. If they can lay down a marker in that game then there are already a few Celtic fans undecided on Brendan Rodgers’ return.’