Rangers will miss Abdallah Sima over the next few weeks, his ability to score goals when he is not playing well is a rare quality in modern football.
The 22-year old has 15 goals in 33 appearances this season playing off the left-hand side and it is little wonder that he has become a fans’ favourite.
Talks of a permanent move are never far away but, if Rangers do want to keep Abdallah Sima, they will have to hope that the comments of loan manager Gordon Greer are ignored, as reported by The Rangers Review.
Rangers given Abdallah Sima move seal of approval
Sima can be frustrating.
Never have I seen a Rangers player give the ball away so many times and look like he should be hooked before half-time only to then score the opening goal out of nowhere.
This is the primary reason why calls to play him through the middle should be ignored.
His first touch can be ropey, he can lose the ball dribbling under no real pressure and simple passes often go astray.
However, football is about scoring goals and Abdallah Sima has won more than his fair share of games for Rangers, which is why Gers boss Philippe Clement is right to want to keep him as part of his squad.
Greer has been impressed with what he has seen when asked for his verdict on the Senegal international’s time at Ibrox:
“He’s worked really hard. It wasn’t easy at the start for him, but he’s banging a few goals in and it’s great to see him doing so well. He has got some really good and strong attributes.
“You can see it in the games, especially sometimes when they play a wee bit deeper and you can see him explode into the space. So, he’s a great lad, he’s done really well and we are really happy with him.”
What Brighton will want for Sima remains a bit of a mystery.
They paid Slavia Prague a reported £6m a few seasons ago but, with just a year to go on his contract after this campaign, it isn’t the Premier League club that hold all the cards.
It would take the sort of money that we paid for Ryan Kent, probably, but for a wide player who has better than a goal or assist every two games with Sima’s work rate, it would be money well spent.
It also wouldn’t be a gamble for a player who loves the club he is currently at.
Rangers know what Abdallah Sima can do whereas, if we have to replace his output in the summer, it will cost money and there are no guarantees.
He’s a good age, an excellent profile and, most of all, a matchwinner and those don’t grow on trees.
