Aberdeen face stiff competition for Reims striker Hornby

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 20 May 2021 13:39 BST
• 2 min read

Aberdeen face competition to sign Reims forward Fraser Hornby on loan.

FootballTransfers understands that Scotland Under-21 international Hornby has several options regarding his immediate future.

Sources in France have confirmed that unnamed clubs from Germany and the Netherlands are actively pursuing the former Everton striker. It is believed the German side play in the second tier but the Dutch side are top flight.

Reims have already confirmed that they are willing to allow the 21-year-old Hornby to depart the club this January.

Indeed, club director Mathieu Lacour has publicly admitted: “He needs to play.”

Since arriving in France over the summer, Hornby has made only three Ligue 1 appearances, totalling just 32 minutes. His last competitive action was a clash against Paris Saint-Germain in September.

The Aberdeen target has been troubled by niggling injury issues, however, and he will not feature in Sunday’s scheduled league fixture against Strasbourg.

Aberdeen, meanwhile, are set to active in the market this January in a bid to replace striker Sam Cosgrove, who is set to sign for Birmingham City for a fee in the region of £2 million.

The 24-year-old Cosgrove has endured a difficult run of form at Pittodrie this term, having scored only three goals in 15 competitive matches this season.

Aberdeen lie third in the Scottish Premiership but have been in disappointing form in front of goal in recent times. They have scored five goals in their last five matches but have twice been held to scoreless draws in that run.

It is hoped that Hornby, whose most recent goals came via a hat-trick for Scotland’s Under-21 side against San Marino in December, would help fire the Aberdeen attack and allow them to secure European football next season.