Youssef Chermiti under pressure already as ‘baffling’ decision taken at Rangers
Rangers fans will be keeping a keen eye on Youssef Chermiti at Ibrox after his transfer from Everton last summer.
The 21-year-old hasn’t had the most exciting start to life at the Gers, making two uneventful appearances off the bench.
It’s been claimed that Russell Martin didn’t want Chermiti at the Light Blues, but it looks like Kevin Thelwell was determined to get him.
Bojan Miovski also moved to Ibrox in the previous transfer window as the Glaswegian outfit looked to fill the void left by Hamza Igamane and Cyriel Dessers’ departure.
This story includes exclusive comments from Gers icon Derek Ferguson.
Derek Ferguson baffled by Youssef Chermiti transfer fee at Rangers
Ferguson doesn’t see a reason to justify the money the Gers spent on Chermitt.
The former midfielder believes the Portugal Under-21 international’s price tag of £10million, including add-ons, immediately puts pressure on him at Ibrox.
Ferguson can’t understand why the Glaswegian outfit have decided to take such a gamble on the striker, with fans in G51 expecting something special from him every week.
Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News, he said: “I just can’t see anything to justify that fee. It’s baffling why they’ve paid so much. What it does is it brings pressure for the young lad from the off.
“With a price tag like that, you expect him to play every week and to bang in goals. If he doesn’t, then the pressure builds. It’s a strange one, and I, of course, wish him well, but I’m scratching my head over this one. I don’t know why this deal was done, to be honest with you.”
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Kevin Thelwell puts reputation on the line for Youssef Chermiti
Chermiti’s failure at Ibrox will undoubtedly reflect poorly on Thelwell, who decided to make him possibly the second most expensive signing at the Gers.
The English sporting director signed the 21-year-old during his time at Everton, but there was nothing to suggest in the Premier League that the centre-forward could contribute to success at the Light Blues.
Every supporter in G51 has the right to question the decision-makers for deciding to use valuable funds on an unproven player instead of signing the likes of Vaclav Cerny and Abdallah Sima.
- Thelwell signed Chermiti at Everton for £11.5m in 2023 from Sporting CP.
- The striker didn’t score or assist during his two-year stint at Goodison Park.
- Last season, the centre-forward made four Premier League appearances.
Thelwell recognises Chermiti’s transfer to Rangers is high risk, high reward, and it remains to be seen what the outcome of the deal will be in the coming months.
The Portuguese youngster doesn’t have much time to settle in at Ibrox, with the atmosphere in G51 arguably already toxic due to Martin’s underachievements this season.
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