George Overhill

Mon 11 December 2023 20:40, UK

Abdallah Sima will be “first on the list” for Rangers in the January transfer window and any other deals will depend on what money is left over, according to Alan Rough.

The former Scotland goalkeeper said on PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show on 11 December that the on-loan Brighton attacker will surely now be the priority at Ibrox after his strong run of goalscoring form continued against both Hearts and Dundee in the past week.

Peter Martin and Neil Lennon both agreed that the 22-year-old has been a leading light for the Gers this season, while Tam McManus had to admit he had been proven wrong by the Senegalese international who has been “excellent” after some initial struggles.

Martin said (20m 40s): “I was looking and trying to think of the real stand-outs who deserve credit and a pat on the back this season from the clubs in the SPFL and Sima’s got to be one of them, he deserves tremendous credit, he’s banging in the goals.”

Rough replied: “Yeah well Rangers are already talking about what they might do in the January window and he’s the first one that’s going to cost money. I think he’s got a wee while left on his contract at his own club, so I imagine he would be top of the list.

“They’ve got him there, he’s tasted what it’s like to play in front of 50,000, he’s done European football, so he’ll be first on the list. It depends how much money’s left for the rest.”

Lennon then added: “He’s been their best signing. His header the other day was fantastic, all different kinds of goals as well. He’s a man bang in form for Rangers at the minute, no question.”

And McManus said: “It’s been a great turnaround because initially I thought he looked poor to be honest, the opening games for Rangers I thought, ‘he’s not going to do it’.

“But to be fair to him he’s took the criticism from the supporters, he’s battled back, and he’s been excellent. The goal against Hearts he runs right through, great pace, finishes it. Different type of goal at the weekend there as well, wins a penalty kick, so he’s involved in everything good about Rangers at the minute.”

Proven himself

If Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers and Jose Cifuentes were able to bounce back from their early struggles in the same way that Sima has then Rangers would be on fire now.

However, typically he is the only one who wasn’t a permanent signing so it is going to take yet more spending to get his stay extended in Glasgow.

But while the focus has heavily been on a new striker in light of Dessers and Lammers underperforming and Danilo now ruled out, with Lawrence Shankland widely tipped as the top option, it does take for granted the primary goal threat currently available to Philippe Clement.

He has scored in each of the past three SPFL fixtures as part of a return of 13 in all competitions so far, which is all the more impressive given he plays on the wing.

Clement may have his eye on adding another scorer because Sima still has half a season on loan already secured but if he keeps up this sort of form it is only going to get harder to keep him in the summer.

Malik Tillman’s exit back to Bayern Munich after a fruitful loan season saw a lot of attacking production leave and this Rangers side without Sima in it would be looking very light should the same thing happen so it would certainly be understandable if he was the priority.

Fans would surely love to see Shankland or an alternative arrive at Ibrox next month on top but the club have a decision to make if there is only enough cash available right now for one or the other.

In other Rangers news, Tom English doesn’t think there is going to be anyone arriving at the club in January based on his understanding of the budget.