Rangers tipped to make new Abdallah Sima approach by Ibrox insider amid £8m transfer update
Rangers may not be able to afford to sign Abdallah Sima permanently from Brighton during the summer transfer window, according to Barry Ferguson.
The Senegalese forward has impressed during his loan spell at Ibrox this season, scoring 11 goals in 22 Scottish Premiership matches, including a crucial second-half strike in the Gers' Old Firm draw with Celtic.
While Philippe Clement would be keen to keep Sima in Glasgow, Ibrox insider Ferguson thinks an £8million fee may be too much for the Gers and expects them to pursue another season-long loan instead.
Speaking on The Go Radio Football Show (8 April, 47:15) he said: "I think he's a big player, a massive player. I know he's been out for a while, but you saw the difference he made. He's just very direct and you need that, defenders hate pace and that's one thing that he's got.
"He's one that I'm sure that Rangers, he might be too expensive because I'm hearing it might be £7million to £8million, but I'm sure they'll be talking to Brighton and saying listen if we can't pay that, another year's loan?
"But I would imagine there will be some teams interested in him because certainly since he's come up to Scotland his form has been excellent."
Will Rangers sign Abdallah Sima permanently in the summer transfer window?
If money was no object, Rangers would surely be doing all that they possibly could to secure Sima's signature this summer as the 22-year-old has been a complete revelation ever since he arrived at Ibrox under Michael Beale.
So many of the Englishman's signings struggled to adapt to the Scottish game, but the Brighton loanee hit the ground running and has never looked back and it would be a huge shame if the Gers missed out on signing him permanently.
But an £8million fee is a lot for a club north of the border and it does seem unlikely that the Ibrox board would be willing to foot that bill this summer, especially having spent so heavily last summer for very little reward.
Potentially, another loan switch may be doable, but Brighton may view this summer as the perfect opportunity to cash in on Sima permanently given his impressive campaign in Glasgow. As Ferguson said, teams will be queuing up to sign the forward.
Hopefully, some sort of deal can be reached between the two parties. Whether he returns permanently or for another loan spell, the signing of Sima would be a massive boost for Clement ahead of next season.
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