What Russell Martin said about Youssef Chermiti after he signed for Rangers is now laughable
Kevin Thelwell is crucified for a poor summer of transfer business at Rangers, and Youssef Chermiti is arguably their worst signing.
Rangers paid a whopping £8million with add-ons to sign Chermiti from Everton in September, and the decision to land the Portuguese centre-forward has become even more baffling.
Ally McCoist has questioned Rangers for capturing Chermiti after watching the 21-year-old score just twice in 20 appearances across all competitions.
The 21-year-old simply hasn’t been anywhere near good enough to warrant his price tag, and what Russell Martin initially said about him is hilarious.
Russell Martin hailed Youssef Chermiti a ‘brilliant investment’
Chermiti arrived at Ibrox after failing to score in 24 appearances for Everton. That record should have sent alarm bells ringing instantly, but of course, Thelwell sanctioned a transfer for the youngster, and Martin couldn’t hide his excitement at the time.
Speaking after his arrival, the former Rangers boss hailed the striker as a ‘brilliant investment’ and said he would do ‘extremely well’.
“It’s a long-term investment for the football club, I think it will be a brilliant investment for the football club,” he said via BBC Sport.
“I think he’ll do extremely well for us. There won’t be any expectation on him in here, I’m sure externally maybe that changes.
“He wants to learn, he wants to grow, and he wants to help the team. Youssef has tools that you’d really want in a number nine. Good athleticism. Great kid. Wants to learn. Brilliant record at youth level.”
| Youssef Chermiti’s record under Russell Martin |
| 6 appearances |
| 0 goals |
| 0 assists |
The decision to capture Chermiti was one of the main reasons Rangers sacked Thelwell at the end of November, while Martin’s verdict on the player proves he isn’t good at spotting talent.
What is Rangers January plan for Chermiti
There is no confidence inside the football club that Chermiti, Bojan Miovski or Danilo can fire the Light Blues back into the title race.
Rangers are in the market for a striker to bolster their chances of scoring, while it is plausible that Chermiti could leave Ibrox on loan.
The former Sporting Lisbon star has already fielded interest from fellow Portuguese giants Braga, and that could be an ideal destination for him to improve his confidence.
To offload the youngster, though, Rohl has been placed in a difficult situation, as the German needs to play him regularly to generate potential interest.
But for that to work, Chermiti needs to perform well, and currently, his displays don’t warrant a place in the starting lineup.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @ibroxnews247