Celtic winger Luis Palma could have ended up at Rangers last summer as Ibrox icons Ally McCoist and Barry Ferguson praise his impact in Scottish football.
The Premiership champions might have ignored Emilio Izaguirre’s advice when the former Celtic left-back recommended Alberth Elis and Anthony ‘Choco’ Lozano to Brendan Rodgers’ side but, after adding another brilliant finish to his growing collection over the weekend, the Hoops will be glad to have been alerted to the talents of another Honduras international.
Luis Palma, hailing from the same Central American nation as Izaguirre, is already hurtling towards ’bargain of the season’ territory. A £3.5 million acquisition from Greek side Aris, Celtic’s gain is Rangers’ loss, the former sneaking in and snatching Palma after months of speculation suggesting he was bound for Ibrox instead.
Rangers should have pushed through Luis Palma deal
Rangers reportedly failed with a £2.5 million bid weeks before the winger – a readymade Ryan Kent replacement no less – was putting pen to paper with their Old Firm rivals from the other side of Glasgow. Why the Ibrox outfit opted not to raise their offer is anyone’s guess. And, with Palma setting Celtic back less than the Gers paid for Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers respectively, it surely won’t be long before the critics start to ask some serious questions about those Rangers did not sign as well as those they did.
“I was unsure (about Palma initially),” former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson tells Go Radio Football. “But, over the last few weeks, he is certainly showing signs that for £3.5m that it’s been money really well spent.
“Good feet, quick. Got an eye for goal. That’s what you want from your forward-thinking players.”
Palma shining at Celtic
Palma now has six goals or assists in his last eight Celtic appearances, maintaining his excellent recent form with a trademark long-range stunner against Ross County on Saturday. He already has a Champions League strike against the giants of Atletico Madrid under his belt too, a finish legendary Rangers striker Ally McCoist described as ‘terrific’ (talkSPORT).
The consolation, for Rangers, is that Abdallah Sima is thriving in the position Palma would likely have taken in Philippe Clement’s frontline. But, still, with Sima only on loan and Palma getting better and better with each passing week, it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the elephant in the room, and the suggestion that Rangers may have let Scotland’s most exciting newcomer slip through their fingers.
