Surprise Rangers exit now set as Fashion Sakala sends emotional farewells
A surprise new Rangers exit may now be set after Fashion Sakala looked to have said his goodbyes on social media from a plane jetting out of Glasgow.
The Scottish Daily Mail reported on 4 August that the forward is set to quit Ibrox and follow the likes of Antonio Colak, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos out the ibrox doors in a surprise new exit, having been a target for Saudi Arabian side Al-Fayha.
Rangers boss Michael Beale confirmed ahead of the opening day defeat to Kilmarnock on Saturday (5 August) that the 26-year-old wouldn’t be involved because “he’s away having talks” [Rangers Review, 4 August].
Discussing the impending departure, Beale said: “Fashion won’t be involved. He’s away having discussions, he’s a boy and a player I have a fantastic relationship with. But sometimes in football, these things happen.
“An opportunity comes along and you discuss between yourself and the player and from there, something can happen. He’s away having talks but nothing is confirmed either way. He’s obviously talking to one of the Saudi clubs.”
In a new social media post from the 26-year-old forward, it now certainly seems as if this confirmed new exit may now just be a matter of days.
Sakala took to his Instagram on Sunday (6 August) to post a series of stories appearing to show him flying out of Glasgow along with a few goodbyes to the Rangers fans.
Sakala wrote the captions “We celebrated together” and “I’m sending my kisses to the blue family” before a crucial clip filmed him near a plane window as the plane seemingly took off captioned “Glasgow”.
Sakala then took to his Twitter account on Monday (7 August) to say more farewells in an emotional message to the Rangers support.
With Beale expecting many more departures at Ibrox, this could well be one of the most surprising of the lot given what Sakala had brought to Ibrox throughout his two-year spell, and let’s hope it’s not damaging to their title chances as he was sorely missed in the opening day defeat to Kilmarnock on Saturday.
The additions of Abdallah Sima, Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers and Kieran Dowell have been very impressive from Beale, but Rangers will have certainly needed some familiarity and experience in attack to help those finding their feet and that was evident in Saturday’s encounter.
His direct running, pace, unpredictability in the final third and ability to commit defenders in order to create space for himself and his teammates was truly something special, and regardless of whether Sakala split opinion at Ibrox, his qualities and experience at Ibrox could have proven crucial to Beale.
However, a new super-rich experience is dawning in Saudi, and after what he posted on his Instagram and Twitter in the last few days, Rangers are on the verge of officially announcing another new Ibrox exit in a matter of hours.
In other Rangers news, one Rangers legend has said Beale needs to pause his relationship with Brendan Rodgers