A Rangers transfer stunner has emerged with claims from the ‘dodgy’ press amid ‘transfer expert’ (not sure what those are exactly) Dean Jones’ testimony that Michael Beale is ‘so keen’ on Queens Park Rangers striker Lyndon Dykes.

It’s a ‘stunner’ because only 4 weeks ago Dykes indirectly called Beale a ‘snake’ over the now-Rangers’ manager’s exit from Loftus Road, conceivably killing any notion of the Australian-born Scotland striker moving north to join his former manager at Ibrox.

But Jones, who may have missed that social media post from the former Livingston striker, insists Rangers boss Beale wants to bring Dykes north and QPR are trying to give the hitman a new contract to ward off Rangers’ alleged interest.

Do Rangers need a new striker? Yes. Morelos is a busted flush now (more on that later) and the only other option is Antonio Colak, so we do need some new quality options up there.

Is Dykes a quality option? 6 goals in 25 this season would suggest he’s far from it, and this story is just built for clickbait, something further compounded by 27 goals in 105 overall for QPR.

Quality?

He was excellent at Livi, no denying that, 14 goals and 10 assists in the Scottish Premiership inside 36 outings is a good return, but unless he’s being looked at as depth, he’s not someone we think can improve the quality of the squad.

Lawrence Shankland could, he’s a better striker than Dykes, but admittedly isn’t the big strong physical presence the Australian is. It is worth noting that he has the same record for club as country, he has 8 in 26 for Scotland, so he has scored at good levels.

He just doesn’t do it enough. His present value is around £5M (yes really) and his current deal runs for another 18 month, but while we used to really rate him, and wanted him at Ibrox over Cedric Itten at the time, now things are different and he hasn’t really proven himself in London.

But it’s up to the scouting team and management at the end of the day and if there’s real interest it’s their call.