As Rangers prepare to face off against Slavia Prague in the Europa League Last 16, the Ibrox club will need to keep a teenage wonderkid attracting interest from the Premier League quiet.
Abdallah Sima, 19, is a towering Senegalese striking talent who has been a talismanic presence for the Czech’s so far this season.
Sima has netted 19 goals in 28 games this campaign, including four in the Europa League.
The African forward continued to see his stock rise on Thursday evening too, when he put the seal on Slavia’s Round of 32 2-0 victory over Leicester.
The goal was somewhat symbolic of the presence that Sima poses, a 6ft1 talented, aggressive striker who can hit the ball from anywhere.
It was a beauty of a strike and came after the forward had hit a similar effort towards Kasper Schmeichel’s goal in the first half.
What’s even more impressive is that this is Sima’s breakthrough season, his first in professional football after spending time coming through the youth ranks at clubs in France and Czechia.
Signed to Slavia’s B Team in the summer, Sima was almost immediately promoted to the first team and his scoring rate has been so good he’s now a key weapon in the club’s arsenal.
Speaking of Arsenals, the Premier League side have already been linked to the striker who reportedly has a £45m (€50m) release clause [Calcio Mercato].
West Ham United – a team linked to Slavia through midfielder Tomáš Souček – have also been linked with a move for the player who has been labelled their number one striker target [the Mirror [08/01/21, Page 61]].
According to one of their club insiders, the player will cost £34.7m should the Premier League side – who’re in need of a forward – move for the breakthrough striker [Claret and Hugh].
Not bad for a guy who’s just broken through into men’s football and Sima is certainly one of the Slavia players Rangers will need to keep an eye on.
Whilst Hammers fans might tune into the Rangers tie with Slavia to get a closer look at Sima, find out more about why they may well be cheering on Slavia Prague in the tie.