Four Lads react to Abdallah Sima injury update on Tuesday as another new Rangers transfer now mooted at Ibrox
Four Lads have speculated that Philippe Clement could well be in the market for another forward at Rangers after Abdallah Sima’s injury blow.
Philippe Clement confirmed on Tuesday (23 January) that the Senegalese international, who has 10 goals in 20 Scottish Premiership appearances, is set for a “long-term” spell on the sidelines having returned early from the AFCON.
Chris Jack reported that there is currently no timescale on Sima’s return at Ibrox while a return to his parent club Brighton could well be on the cards (Heart & Hand, 23 January) given the severity of the issue.
And Four Lads shared on their own personal Twitter account (23 January) that the Light Blues have had “serious bad luck” with injuries this season and Sima’s blow could well force Clement into an “essential” winger January move rather than a striker, with the club closing in on the signing of FC Nordsjælland midfielder Mohamed Diomande [Sky Sports, 23 January].
Four Lads posted: “Abdallah Sima out ‘long term’, Dowell out long term also and has had surgery. We have had some serious bad luck this season with injuries.
“Makes the need to strengthen further even more essential, a winger now as essential as a striker perhaps?”
Maybe required
Sima is the top scorer at Ibrox this season, with his 14 goals proving vital to Rangers’ progress both in the Scottish Premiership and in the Europa League.
In the SPFL, the attacker has recorded nine goals and two assists from 18 games and his presence and influence in attack is sure to be missed at Ibrox, especially with Rangers struggling for a regular and consistent goalscorer.
The arrival of Fabio Silva on loan from Wolves will certainly ease the burden of the Senegalese star’s absence but it will be keenly felt. There’s a case to argue that none of Clement’s current attacking weaponry possesses the pace and devastating presence of Sima.
The injury issues at the club so far this season have been dreadful and Clement has made his frustrated stance clear on numerous occasions so losing a player of Sima’s quality and current form will be a huge blow.
Whether Clement’s squad is strong enough to cope without Sima is another matter entirely. Rabbi Matondo, Scott Wright, Ross McCausland, and Todd Cantwell are all capable of filling in but doubts persist over their influence and quality in front of goal like Sima has enjoyed.
It may well be that Clement and recruitment chief Nils Koppens will have to dip into the market for another new transfer at Ibrox after Sima’s dreadful blow.
In other Rangers news, a player has left his training camp to put pen to paper.
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