While Rangers got most of their business done in the first half of the transfer window, the Glasgow giants still had some work to do before last Friday’s 11pm deadline.
A summer long-pursuit of a new left-winger dragged on right until deadline day.
After speculation linking Josip Brekalo, Tiago Gouveia and more with Philippe Clement’s Premiership hopefuls – and after Rangers failed with their attempts to bring in Sam Edozie on loan from Southampton – Nedim Bajrami finally signed on the dotted line.
The £3.5 million Albania international arrives after Sassuolo’s relegation from Serie A.
Whether he can put up the same numbers as Abdallah Sima – Rangers’ star loanee from 2023/24 – only time will tell.
The aforementioned Edozie, meanwhile, only had to wait six more days for his own future to be decided.
Rangers sign Nedim Bajrami after Sam Edozie failure
Southampton manager and one-time Gers defender Russell Martin was left frustrated by the way talks collapsed almost literally at the 11th hour.
Edozie had been made available after slipping down Martin’s pecking order, especially after fellow youngster Sam Amo-Ameyaw made such an impression during pre-season.
Fortunately for Edozie, the Belgian transfer window stays open a week after the English and Scottish one closes.
And when Anderlecht came calling – offering the former Manchester City starlet an escape from the St Mary’s sidelines – ex-England Under 20 international Edozie did not take much convincing.
Anderlecht completed the signing of Southampton’s £10 million benchwarmer on Wednesday night, albeit without an option or obligation-to-buy clause in his temporary contract.
“With Samuel, we’re bringing in a bright young talent who can play on both sides on the wing,” Jesper Fredberg, CEO of the 34-time Belgian champions, tells Anderlecht’s official website.
“He possesses good technical abilities, especially in one-v-one situations. By bringing him in, we’re adding more competition and variety to the squad.
“We believe we can give Samuel the opportunity to show himself here and help the team this season.”
Edozie, once labelled an ‘incredible’ talent by Man City boss Pep Guardiola, scored six goals and set up three more as Southampton secured their return to the Premier League last season.
He is direct, dribbly sort of winger in the Rabbi Matondo mould. Bajrami, however, is more of a ‘wide playmaker’ by comparison.
Albania assistant coach and one-time Rangers defender Sergio Porrini tells the Daily Record that his old employers should expect ‘great technique’ and ‘quality in the final third’ from a man who can also challenge Tom Lawrence for a spot in the centre.
Anderlecht sign Southampton starlet on loa n
Edozie, meanwhile, will hope to end Anderlecht’s long wait for a 35th Jupiler League title. The most successful team in the country have not lifted the trophy since 2017.
“What frustrated me was how late it fell through, and it wasn’t on our end,” Martin tells the Daily Record when asked why that Rangers switch failed to materialise.
“It’s a bit unfair to Sam really. It’s a bit disappointing but it is what it is. Every club has their prerogative and their priorities in the transfer window. I was gutted for Sam because it was too late to then find another opportunity to go and play football.”
“He’ll get to work like everyone else now. Get his head down, work really hard and try and get himself into the squad and into the team.
“He wasn’t in it (against Brentford on Saturday) because of the speculation. But also because Sam Amo deserves to be in the squad more than he does right now.
“That’s my opinion and that won’t be everyone’s opinion. It definitely won’t be Sam Edozie’s. But unfortunately, I’m the guy who takes that hope or the opportunity of him playing away.
“It’s the hardest bit of the job. So we’ll have a chat. We had a couple of messages already and we’ll have a chat. He’ll be fine. He needs to find a way to get himself back into the group and really impact things.”
