Rangers figure blamed for Youssef Chermiti struggles as exit already lined up
Derek Ferguson has sympathy for Youssef Chermiti as a Rangers exit is already lined up for the misfiring striker.
Braga are said to be lining up a loan move for Chermiti for the January transfer window, despite the 21-year-old only being at Ibrox for two months.
Ibrox News understands that Rangers are open to letting Chermiti depart Ibrox for the second half of the season.
Chermiti has badly struggled for Rangers since joining in a deal from Everton that could rise from £8million to £10m.
As the striker continues to struggle, player-turned-pundit Ferguson feels sorry for him due to the price tag being out of his hands.
Kevin Thelwell to blame for Youssef Chermiti struggles
Kevin Thelwell is another Rangers figure who’s struggled since arriving from Everton, with the sporting director behind a number of questionable decisions.
One of those decisions was splashing out a huge sum of money for a striker who made absolutely no impact in his short time at Everton.
And Ferguson, speaking exclusively to Ibrox News, says Thelwell spending so big on an unproven talent always meant Chermiti was going to be up against it.
“I do feel sorry for Chermiti, I’ll be honest with you,” Ferguson said. “He should have taken one of his two glorious chances against Celtic.
“Take the price tag away for a moment – he has to score those as a Rangers striker. If he gets one of them he instantly lifts that pressure.
“You can see he’s trying, but sometimes you can try too hard and it doesn’t go for you. One or two goals will help him relax.
“Again, it’s down to the price tag and the fact Rangers moved for him and not one of the others. Thelwell’s piled the pressure on the young man.
“He’s only 21, but that price tag is for a player to deliver in these big games. The fans remain unsure on him.
“But for most part, honestly, fans would love nothing more than to see him thrive. The problem is that patience is wearing thin.”
Chermiti’s Rangers record makes for painful reading
Chermiti has played 12 times for Rangers in all competitions and has scored just once, with that coming in the 3-1 win against Kilmarnock.
As per Sofascore data, Chermiti ranks 28th among strikers in the Scottish Premiership for goals scored so far.
He is netting at a rate of one goal every 506 minutes, which it goes without saying is simply not good enough for a Rangers player.
The links with a move to Portugal appear to carry some weight, and it may well be that six months back in his homeland revitalises Chermiti.
Chermiti is not a lost cause just yet, but Rangers – and indeed Thelwell – are under pressure to get far more out of their big-money investment.
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