Rangers may look for second loan spell for Abdallah Sima as £10m transfer verdict shared
Rangers may not be able to pay a fee in the region of £10million to make Abdallah Sima’s loan spell at Ibrox permanent, according to Scott McDermott.
The Senegalese striker has been the pick of Rangers’ outfield summer signings this season and is thriving in Glasgow, having scored nine goals in 18 matches in all competitions prompting much discussion over his future beyond his current loan spell.
Philippe Clement’s side don’t have the option to make the 22-year-old’s stay permanent, but Sunday Mail writer McDermott believes the Light Blues could look to sign Sima on another loan deal next season.
As quoted by Sussex Live (1 November) he said: “Right now, if you asked Rangers fans if they’d want Sima on a permanent transfer next season, they’d be keen on it as long as the fee wasn’t ridiculous. But it depends how much Brighton would be looking for.
“If the fee was in the region of £10million, for example, it’s unlikely Rangers could afford to do that deal – even if they wanted to. Is he good enough to go back to the Amex and compete with the likes of Mitoma for a starting slot? I would say no. He’d be more of a squad player at Brighton.
“So would another loan to Rangers next season be the answer? Possibly. Either way, the move is benefiting all parties at the moment so I’m sure it will be reassessed at the end of the current campaign.”
Wait and see
Given the money that Rangers spent on strikers this summer, many supporters would have much preferred to have used that funding to make Sima’s addition permanent rather than bring the likes of Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers to Ibrox on permanent moves.
The nature of the forward’s good form will mean that clubs around the world will be taking note of his availability and the increased competition for his signature will only mean that his price will be driven up following the conclusion of his loan spell.
If McDermott’s view that Sima is not yet good enough to break into the Brighton side is true, the Seagulls may be open to another loan switch to Ibrox, should it mean that the forward gets closer to the standard required to feature at the Amex Stadium.
But if Robert De Zerbi decides that the Senegalese striker is not good enough to make the grade and Brighton do look to sell Sima permanently, it’s hard to see how Rangers will be able to beat several European clubs financially to secure his services.
In other Rangers news, Charlie Miller believes that Clement cannot afford to drop Lammers and Dessers despite their recent form