Rarely has Rangers’ transfer business looked more inspired than during the 4-0 hammering of FCSB in the Europa League, Nedim Bajrami one of many new arrivals to play a starring role.
Bajrami, the £3.5 million deadline day arrival from Sassuolo, has made quite the impression since arriving in Glasgow.
The Albanian was exceptional during the 2-0 win at Malmo on Rangers’ first European encounter of the campaign. To think, Philippe Clement believes Bajrami is capable of even more in Scotland, with the silky, velvet-footed playmaker yet to get a run of games in his favoured number ten role.
The man himself, meanwhile, insists that his adaptation to life at Ibrox has been made a lot easier by the immediate understanding he has struck up with Tom Lawrence and flying left-back Jefte.
On a night in which Rangers’ fleet of new signings finally came of age in that royal blue shirt – Vaclav Cerny scoring twice, Hamza Igamane opening his account, and Connor Barron exceptional both on and off the ball as FCSB were blown away – Bajrami could not speak highly enough of those he shares a pitch with on Clement’s watch.
- READ MORE: Rangers Europa League Record Since 2017
Rangers’ Nedim Bajrami sees bright future for Jefte and Hamza Igamane
“I think, now, you play football. You don’t have just one position. So it’s a lot of movement, even with Tom and Jefte,” says Bajrami, who would alternative roles with Lawrence to keep the beleaguered FCSB backline guessing.
“I find myself really enjoying my football with them, even if I play on the left.
“We were very happy for Hamza because he’s working a lot, even in the training,” Bajrami adds, the summer recruit from Moroccan outfit RAF Rabat justifying those Alfredo Morelos comparisons with a cool finish after a jinking run into the box.
“Finally, he scored! I hope he can do this also on Sunday [against St Mirren] and everyone has to keep going like that.
“I think Hamza and Jefte can be top players in the next few years. I think if they do good here, they have a big future ahead. And they have to work a lot because football is like that.”
- READ MORE: Rangers Transfer History 2016-Present
Nils Koppen explains Rangers’ transfer strategy
The Swiss-born Bajrami, at 25, is one of the older of Rangers’ summer signings.
Igamane, Jefte, Barron, Clinton Nsiala were brought in with an eye on the future as well as the present, with Rangers’ recruitment chief Nils Koppen highlighting a determination to find value in lesser-spotted markets such as North Africa and South America.
“Not just only one goal because we have to show it every weekend. Not only the young players, all the whole staff and even the players.”
“It’s important to look all over the globe about where we can compete financially without losing the focus on Scotland and the local market,” Koppen explained a few weeks back.
“To look worldwide gives us more opportunities to sign these talents, and I think football is going fast. The UK market is getting more difficult for us financially so we have to think outside the box and get creative.
“But also we have to look at profiles – even Brazil or Morocco – that is more suitable. It’s about looking in the different market but finding suitable profiles.”
