Green light for Gnanduillet?

ARMAND Gnanduillet has become the first name on the Rotherham rumour list.

The Frenchman has become a free agent after leaving Turkish Second Division side Altay SK after serving four months of a one-year deal.

Gnanduillet’s most recent stint in England came with Blackpool last season in League One. The two-year spell with the Seasiders brought a record of 25 goals in 75 games. In 2019/20 he scored in both fixtures against Rotherham. A 99^th minute penalty at Bloomfield Road and a 34^th minute strike at the New York.

A failed spell at South African side Baroka sandwiches between the first and second two-year stints with Blackpool. Between 2016 and 2018, Gnanduillet managed seven goals in 45 appearances. A grand total of 32 goals in 120 appearances in orange.

Before his time in the shadow of Blackpool Tower, Gnanduillet had spells at Leyton Orient, Stevenage, Oxford United, Tranmere Rovers, and Chesterfield after leaving France in 2013.

The search for Championship football lured him away from Blackpool, but an early exit from Turkey may be the ticket to a January signing at Rotherham.

However.

This rumour does raise questions over the strike force of the Millers and whether one, or perhaps two, may move away from the club. Currently, the Millers have Freddie Ladapo (4 goals, 0 assists in 18), Michael Smith (4 goals, 0 assists in 18), Kyle Vassell (0 goals, 1 assist in 12), and on loan from Leicester George Hirst (0 goals, 0 assists in 14).

Manager, Paul Warne, has expressed his desire to sign a Left Back, a Leader in Midfield, and a Striker in January. One wonders where a new striker would slot into the squad with out one or two moving on either on loan or permanently.

If, remember this is a rumour and nothing more, Gnanduillet does come to the Millers, he will be the third ex-Blackpool player to swap the Seaside for the New York, following Clark Robertson and Kyle Vassell, all be it via Turkey.

Millers academy graduate, Jerry Yates, moved the opposite way last summer.

The crystal ball wizards on Twitter say a deal is close between Rotherham and Gnanduillet, but we will have to wait and see. Apparently, we’ve already battered away Barnsley, Charlton Athletic, and Northampton Town. Also, he has apparently turned down ‘Big’ offers from League One Sunderland and Bristol Rovers.

The appeal of the championship, eh?

More to follow as this (possibly) develops.