FASHION Sakala has declared that he has no interest in leaving Rangers on loan after being linked this summer with signings from Auxerre, Celta de Vigo and Real Sociedad.
However, the Zambian striker has revealed that he will hold talks with his coach, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, in the coming days because he is unsure about his future at Ibrox.
The 25-year-old joined the Glasgow giants on a free transfer from Oostende in Belgium last summer and scored 12 goals and provided 15 assists in all competitions in the 2021/22 campaign.
But he was used primarily as a backup by Van Bronckhorst, who replaced Steven Gerrard as coach in November, and has been suggested to leave and get regular playing time in recent weeks.
Sakala, who entered the Europa League final in Seville in May, has stressed that he wants to stay in Govan and will hold talks with the Dutchman in the coming days.
“Obviously I’m very happy to be here,” he said. “All this talk about loans? I don’t think I can go on loan. I’m not looking at loan movements.
“It is not necessary for me to go on loan because my first season was not bad. I scored 12 goals in all competitions and that was my adaptation season. Now I have to prepare to do better this season.
“If I hadn’t had the chance last season or if I hadn’t scored a single goal, I would have said, ‘Okay, I need to make a move, I need to go.’ Because for me, I can be here at this great club, but if I’m not playing, it doesn’t mean anything.
“Last season was good. It could have been better, but I was on the bench most of the time and coming all the time is difficult. I think the players understand that doing it is not easy. When you do that, the game is on another level and the pace is not the same.”
Sakala added: “I haven’t had a meeting with him (Van Bronckhorst), but I think they had a meeting with my manager and he said he wants me, he wants me to be part of the club.
“I look forward to a meeting soon and look forward to hearing your views. This is something I’m looking forward to because we’re starting a competition and I want to know where I stand because I don’t know right now.”
Van Bronkhorst, who has bolstered his squad with Welsh winger Rabbi Matondo and Croatian striker Antonio Colak this summer, told Sakala last season after his arrival that he will most often be used on the wings.
Since then, the striker has tried to adapt his game.
“When I came here for Gerrard, they told me not to be a winger,” he said. “I can also play as a winger, but they told me to play as a 9. Those were the reasons I came here.
“I had games with Gerrard. I think that since I got here I have played three games in a row in which I played 90 minutes. Then when he left, I knew the lineup would change.
“Back then, I already had some doubts. But when Gio came we had a meeting and he told me that for him I am not going to play as a striker because he likes great strikers.
“That’s something I respect because all coaches have views on players. Now they tell me to play more as a winger, which is something I have to work on. I’m working on it, but I’m not really a winger, I’m more like a speedy striker.”
Van Bronckhorst only has one fit striker in Colak at the moment because Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe are getting back on form after injuries. However, Sakala doesn’t think he’ll show up regularly in his long-term favorite position and is focusing on improving his wing game.
“Alfredo isn’t fit yet, Roofe isn’t back yet, so I’m starting to think maybe this is my chance to play forward,” he said.
“But Alfredo is the main player of the team, he is like a superstar. When he returns, what would be my position?
“All these questions enter my thinking. I don’t know if I should prepare in case Alfredo is not in the team or if I should prepare for the whole season.
“Because when I come back they won’t count me as a striker. So I have to prepare for a position where I will play the whole season.
“So even if they’re not back, I don’t see myself as a striker. I just want to work at the positions where I feel like I could have opportunities to play.
“Because we have Colak, we have Roofe and we have Alfredo. These are the strikers we have. If I put myself there then I will be the fourth option. So I don’t want to put pressure on myself thinking I’m a striker.”
Source: www.thenational.scot