Sam Lammers is on fire since swapping Rangers for Utrecht in January.
The lanky forward never quite found a home in Glasgow – as he didn’t in Italy or Germany either – but in Sam Lammers’ loan homecoming to the Netherlands, he’s back where he belongs.
In amongst the goals.
It’s been steady progress for the forward since leaving Rangers and two more strikes in a Utrecht double have taken his current run of form to six goals in only five games.
The striker’s performances are making plenty of headlines in Scotland and as Rangers look to recoup as much as £2.5m on the forward it’s easy to see why.
But the post-Ibrox story of Sam Lammers isn’t a new one with Rangers trying out several players who’ve looked to fill that attacking midfield-to-front role in the squad.
It’s clear Rangers are sniffing around in the right place, but the story of these three guys suggests the Ibrox club are yet to find that creative spark.
Could Sam Lammers return to Rangers?
We know you’ve all at the very least thought it.
But whilst we maintain it is a very unlikely prospect that Sam Lammers would return to Rangers, the Utrecht loanee won’t be leaving Ibrox for peanuts.
Having spent somewhere in the region of £3m on the forward, the Ibrox side are said to want at least £2.5m for the ex-Atalanta star. And not without good reason.
Scoring another two goals for Utrecht in their 3-2 away win over Heerenveen – another of the striker’s former loan clubs – the double points to a player in confidence.
One of the goals was also an outstanding solo effort, where the forward moved the ball from left to right before smashing it into the net.
We know what you’re all thinking – but is this Sam Lammers really the man to bring Rangers’ creative spark next season?
Never say never, but there’s a feeling the Dutchman’s time has come and gone.
Sam Lammers Eredivisie stats 23/24
- 13 games
- 7 goals
- 3 assists
Malik Tillman excelling post Rangers
Another player with close connections to Rangers who is currently tearing up the Eredivisie is Malik Tillman.
The Bayern Munich talent spent last season on loan at the Ibrox side who had their attempts to sign the player quashed by the Bundesliga giants, who immediately activated a buyback clause.
It meant Rangers made a bit of money off the deal but really the club wanted the young American to fill that middle-to-front void which Sam Lammers was drafted in to do this summer.
Going by the player’s performances in Holland, it’s easy to see why.
Still technically a Bayern player who turns out on loan at PSV Eindhoven, Tillman’s reputation as a creative goalscorer is flourishing.
Adding another two assists in PSV’s 5-1 demolition of AZ this week, it takes the kid’s creative return to an impressive 13 this season.
Add on top of that Tillman’s six goals and even at the tender age of 21-years-old this guy is growing into a real match winner.
With PSV holding a £13m option-to-buy on the kid, Rangers fans will just be hoping to see Malik reach the very top of the game.
Malik Tillman PSV Eindhoven stats
- Appearances – 35
- Goals – 6
- Assists – 13
Does Ianis Hagi have a Rangers future?
This brings us to one player who has bore the matchwinning responsibility at Rangers before.
There was a brief moment in Ianis Hagi’s Rangers career that looked like the Romanian might be the one to finally fulfil that role at Ibrox but injury cut him down in his prime.
Spending over a year out with that devastating cruciate ligament injury, it looked to have derailed Ianis Hagi’s pathway at Rangers.
Out of the team with the club signing players in his position, the Romanian headed to Alavés in the summer but it has not gone to plan in La Liga.
Sporadic opportunities have now been replaced with a regular seat on the bench and there’s been a lot made about Ianis Hagi returning to Rangers.
With Malik Tillman never coming back and questions surrounding Sam Lammers, is Ianis Hagi another who has played his final game for the club?
Ianis Hagi Alavés stats
- 24 appearances
- Two goals
- One assist
