Steven Gerrard looks to bring Umar Sadiq to Glasgow Rangers from Italian side Roma

GLASGOW Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is looking to sign Nigerian striker Umar Sadiq from Italian side Roma ahead of the forthcoming season as part of an aggressive plan to make his side a formidable European team

Recently appointed to his first managerial position, Gerrard has make it clear he intends being ambitious and has already signed three players, while also signing Nigerian-born midfielder Ovie Ejaria on loan from Liverpool. However, with Alfredo Morelos being Rangers’ only recognised striker, the former England captain wants to bring in the gangling Sadiq from Roma.

Sadiq, 21,  was bought by Roma for £2m in 2016 but spent the second half of last season on loan with Dutch side NAC Breda. He found the back of the net five times in 13 games in the Eredivisie and has two strikes in six Serie A games to his name.

Although he missed out on Nigeria's World Cup squad, Sadiq scored four goals for Nigeria at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Abo9ut six feet five, rangy and powerful, Sadiq is a traditional target man, good at holding the ball up and winning aerial duels.

Sadiq has already said it would be an honour to play for a team handled by legendary England and Liverpool midfielder Gerrard. Roma are said to be open to the idea of letting the forward leave on another loan spell.

NAC Breda where he scored six goals in ten league games have the option of extending his loan by a year but nothing has been mentioned yet regarding the possible extension of the loan. Sadiq said Gerrard is an idol he will like to work with but he is happy at Roma and hopes to be a part of the first team next season.

"Few players of my age will say no to working with Gerrard. Rangers are also a traditional team but for the moment I’m happy at Roma and hope to be a part of the team next season, so for now that is my plan but maybe in the future I will get to work with Gerrard," Sadiq said.