Exclusive: Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday & Middlesbrough race to sign French striker
Championship big guns Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough are battling Rotherham to sign striker Armand Gnanduillet this month, Football Insider understands.
The 28-year-old former Blackpool striker is a free agent after leaving Turkish Second Division side Altay SK.
A recruitment source has told Football Insider that the French striker is a wanted man as leading EFL clubs look to bolster their attack for the second half of the campaign.
Despite interest in his native France, Gnanduillet is keen on a return to England, where he has spent most of his professional career.
Gnanduillet scored 18 goals across 36 matches in all competitions for Blackpool last season and has extensive lower league experience.
He is available after his spell at Turkish second-tier side Altay SK failed to live up to expectations.
The 6ft 3in front man scored just two goals in 15 matches, most of which were as a substitute, in the first half of the campaign.
There is now a race for the signature of Gnanduillet from clubs across the Championship.
Seventh-placed Middlesbrough have reignited their interest after pushing for the striker last summer following their poor 2019-20 campaign.
At Blackpool, Gnanduillet was a prolific scorer with his 145 matches for the club yielding 43 goals and 11 assists.
He has also had spells at Chesterfield – where he scored just 12 times in 98 games – as well as shorter ones at Leyton Orient, Stevenage, Oxford United and Tranmere Rovers.
In other news, John Terry’s stance on quitting Aston Villa for Derby County can be revealed.