Fears ‘no-brainer’ Abdallah Sima transfer could be hijacked despite Rangers stay ‘hope’ – Chris Jack
Chris Jack fears that Rangers won’t be able to complete a permanent deal for Abdallah Sima despite the on-loan forward’s indication that he would like it to happen.
Speaking on the Rangers Review Morning Briefing on 14 December the journalist indicated he felt the 22-year-old could go the same way as Malik Tillman in the summer and be tempted by bigger and better offers after being successful at Ibrox, but admitted it would be a “no-brainer” to keep Sima if a deal can be reached with Brighton.
The Senegalese had spoken publicly the night before of his “hope” that something can be worked out as Rangers have “everything to make me happy” following his 13-goal start with the club.
Jack said (16m 35s): “It wasn’t quite a come-and-get-me plea from Abdallah last night but he certainly wasn’t closing the door on it either. He answered the question well and it’s given people a wee bit of optimism that it is a possibility…
“I fear Rangers may be priced out of that particular deal. I feel it may be a Malik Tillman-type situation where other, more attractive offers, both financially and in football terms, are put in front of Abdallah Sima.
“Certainly if Rangers get a couple more European games under their belt and he plays well or scores then that’s obviously going to attract him to a higher calibre of club elsewhere as well. I don’t think scoring goals domestically is going to get him a huge move.
“We saw with Tillman last year… he then got his move to PSV on the back of that season with us and it became clear that Rangers had done their bit for Tillman and it was time for him to move on. I fear that could be the case with Sima as well.
“But if Rangers can do a deal and it’s one that suits the club financially it would be a no-brainer to do it.”
Hopeful
Nothing is certain at this stage of the season, unless the talks with Brighton that are believed to have already been opened [4th Official, 8 December] take a dramatic positive turn in January.
Sima has been tipped to be the priority deal at Ibrox already given his importance to the team under Philippe Clement already.
But the football landscape always leaves Rangers at risk of their best players being targeted at levels where they can’t compete, and when it applies to those that aren’t already on permanent deals that is clearly all the more of an issue.
However, if Sima is willing to be so forthcoming with his feelings about the club and long-term stay already then it is a very positive sign.
That’s especially true in comparison to the Tillman situation last season where he wasn’t thought to be interested in prolonging his stay.
Brighton have proven in wringing huge amounts out of Chelsea in the past year or so they are anything but push-overs when it comes to negotiations, but they clearly haven’t deemed Sima ready for the Premier League after two previous loans and unless a hugely lucrative alternative destination arrives there will be hope that a Glasgow stay can be arranged.
In other Rangers news, a “perfect” three-way transfer scenario has been predicted that would see a star man arrive at Ibrox with another mooted Gers target on the move as well next month.