Depending on how full or empty your glass is, Rangers’ impending acquisition of Brighton and Hove Albion forward Abdallah Sima is either a moment of transfer market madness of a potential masterstroke.
A player who would arrive at Rangers having not kicked a ball in competitive action at his parent club; spending the last two seasons battling injury and relegation out on loan. Or – from another perspective – a forward who, as recently as 2021, was being labelled the ‘new Thierry Henry’, was knocking Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City out of Europe, and was being linked with West Ham, Arsenal and even Manchester United.
Football is a fickle mistress, and Abdallah Sima knows that only too well.
Rangers close in on Abdallah Sima
Back in April 2021, he was reportedly under consideration by none other than Man United while on route to marking his breakthrough campaign at Slavia Prague with 20 goals and a further eight assists (Manchester Evening News).
Just two months earlier, he scored the goal which sent Rodgers’ Leicester side packing in the UEFA Conference League; the kind of ruthless, dead-eyed finish that was quickly becoming Sima’s trademark.
Slavia president Jaroslaw Tvrdik may have been getting a little carried away when he suggested that anyone hoping to buy Sima would have to pay £50 million; Brighton got him just a few months later for £7 million after all. But the point still stands.
This was a player who, just over two years ago, looked about as attainable to Glasgow Rangers as Mila Kunis is to a butcher’s boy from Govan.
“In the winter, we received an offer of £9 million (for Sima),” Tvrdik said. “From a leading Premier League club. But we wouldn’t sell him for £20 million. We now know about summer offers that range from £20 to £25 million.
“Thousands of fans write to me – no exaggeration. They ask when Sima will join.
Another Rangers revival
According to Sky Sports, talks between Rangers and Brighton are ongoing. 22-year-old Sima is not currently part of Roberto de Zerbi’s plans at the Amex, and Rangers are ‘confident’ that a loan deal can be struck before the month is out (Scottish Sun).
If Sima is to catch the eye of Brighton again – let alone Manchester United – this is an opportunity he cannot afford to waste. Especially on the back of underwhelming stints at Stoke City and Angers.
Beale’s Rangers have already succeeded in rehabilitating Todd Cantwell’s career since the one-time Liverpool and Man City target arrived from Norwich in January, and the hope will be that the same can be achieved with Sima.
Do just that and the sky – and maybe even the title – may be within Rangers’ sights again.
