Rangers have agreed a deal to sign Abdallah Sima on loan with the Brighton and Hove Albion forward reportedly set for a medical at the Ibrox outfit this week.
The Scottish Sun reported a few days ago that Rangers were ‘confident’ of getting the former Slavia Prague star through the door before the month was out. And that confidence was certainly not misplaced.
Abdallah Sima, a £7 million signing during the summer of 2021, has not played a single competitive minute during two years at Brighton. He is not part of Roberto de Zerbi’s immediate plans at the Amex either; last season’s Premier League surprise packages now ready to green-light a temporary move north of the border.
Rangers, Sky Sports say, agreed a deal with Brighton on Wednesday. Sima will now undergo medical tests before becoming Mick Beale’s fifth new signing of the summer, joining Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, Jack Butland and Sam Lammers on the blue side of Glasgow.
Rangers agree Abdallah Sima deal with Brighton
Sima was one of Eastern Europe’s most coveted talents as recently as 2021. Manchester United, Arsenal and West Ham were among those linked, with Slavia President Jaroslaw Tvrdik famously insisting that he wanted £50 million as Sima netted 20 times during a scintillating breakthrough campaign in the Czech capital.
Sima moves at Rangers two years later hoping – like Todd Cantwell following his January arrival from Norwich City – to ice the bruises covering a reputation which has gone 12 rounds with Mike Tyson. Sima made just two Championship appearances during a previous loan spell at Stoke City, and then finished bottom of France’s top flight with Angers in May.
Time will tell, meanwhile, what sort of a role Beale envisages for Sima at Rangers.
The spring-heeled Senegal international can play through the middle or wide out. The split-striker system Beale introduced towards the back end of last term could suit Sima well, using his pace to run onto clever through balls provided by the likes of Cantwell or Lammers.
