MORTON are targeting Montrose forward Russell McLean as the club look to begin the summer rebuild for next season, the Tele can reveal.

The 22-year-old hitman has impressed for Stewart Petrie’s men in the second half of the season after netting 11 goals in all competitions.

McLean is familiar to Ton fans after scored two stunners against the Greenock men over the two legs of the Championship play-off semi-finals at Links Park and at Cappielow earlier this month.

The Tele understands terms have been offered by the Gable Endies, however, a deal could be struck to bring the former Hearts kid to Cappielow, with Championship football on the table for next season after their play-off final triumph over Airdrieonians.

Ton struggled in the goalscoring department last season, with Kalvin Orsi, Robbie Muirhead and Gary Oliver netting 12 between them, and the Montrose frontman would certainly bring a much-needed different option on the top end of the park, with his old-fashioned playing style and an eye for goal.

It is thought that there will be wholesale changes yet again at Cappielow on and off the park as fans' investment group Morton Club Together gear up for their proposed takeover and community ownership going ahead in less than a week's time.

Nineteen of this season’s first-team players are out of contract and rumoured to be going elsewhere, leaving any incoming manager and board the task of assembling nearly a full squad in less than a month before the League Cup campaign kicks off the weekend of July 10/11.

Ton only have starlets Reece Lyon and Lewis Strapp along with academy prospects Darren Hynes, Lewis McGrattan, Alexander Easdale and Michael Garrity signed up for next term with players due to be informed about their futures imminently now that the club’s Championship status has been secured for another year after Friday night's emphatic victory over Ian Murray’s side.

Gus MacPherson’s future at the club will also be decided this week as meetings are scheduled with the Ton hierarchy as they look to see what the best plan of action is going forward.

Winger Cameron Salkeld has agreed to join former gaffer David Hopkin at Ayr United and centre-halves Markus Fjortoft and Sean McGinty have both been linked with the club as well.

Midfield dynamo Kyle Jacobs has been rumoured to have held talks with League One side Falkirk whilst Luca Colville is thought to be keen on a return back down south closer to his family, with York in the frame for the 22-year-old's signature.