Rangers transfer update: Rabbi Matondo bids to be considered as Abdallah Sima loan arrival closes in
Rangers will “undoubtedly” consider bids for Rabbi Matondo this summer as his place in the pecking order weakens, according to Rangers Review.
The Welsh international only arrived from Schalke 04 last summer in a £3million move [Football Scotland] but after a debut season at Ibrox was interrupted by injury he is now seeing more competition arrive at the club during the transfer window.
A loan deal to bring in Abdallah Sima from Brighton is imminent on top of the signing of Sam Lammers, so even though Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent have left the 22-year-old could be expendable from the squad.
Amid increasing attacking options for Beale, Rangers Review‘s Euan Robertson writes: “That will naturally lead to questions over his future and if a suitable offer arrives then Rangers will undoubtedly consider that given he’s unlikely to feature regularly.”
False start
Given that Matondo has hardly been seen in a Rangers shirt in 2023 it is hard to consider his move to Ibrox a success so far.
No goals, although with five assists, across 28 largely substitute appearances in all competitions suggests the only way is up for the winger if he does stay for a second season.
He looked encouragingly threatening in a pair of late SPFL outings under Michael Beale, but as with the team in general it was pretty much too little too late.
However, the end to the season did send the Gers into the summer with a relatively positive feeling, and with Ryan Kent now a Fenerbahce player and Morelos’ time at the club having come to an end Matondo might hope to have moved up in the rotation.
For now, Lammers nominally replaces the Colombian and Sima would fill Kent’s place in the squad, but with the manager showing no signs of being content with what he’s brought in so far that could easily still change.
Hardly anyone at Ibrox is completely safe if a club puts some money on the table so if there is interest Beale probably wouldn’t require much convincing to take it.
But it surely wouldn’t feel like a total disaster if Matondo was still in Glasgow when the window closes, so he is certainly one to watch over the coming weeks.
In other Rangers news, a long-awaited midfielder looks set for a breakthrough in his move this weekend.