Rangers forward Serge Atakayi is set to leave the club in January and sign for SJK Seinajoki in Finland, according to the Daily Record.
The 20-year-old’s Ibrox contract is set to expire in the summer, but the Gers are still expected to receive a transfer fee in the region of £100,000.
Steven Gerrard made it clear some time ago that the January transfer window would be more about trimming the Gers squad rather than adding to it [Scottish Herald], and it seems that Atakayi could be the first of multiple casualties.
The talented youngster made his first-team debut in the Premiership hammering of Motherwell at Ibrox last November, before joining SJK on loan towards the end of the season.
As he left for Finland, he said Gerrard had informed him that he was a genuine part of his plans [Daily Record]. However, an injury on his return to Glasgow saw him miss out on most of pre-season and he hasn’t made a first-team matchday squad since, with Colts and Development Squad fixtures providing his only game time.
Atakayi was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but having grown up in Finland, this move is something of a homecoming.
He made ten Veikkausliiga appearances during his previous stint with SJK, scoring once and registering one assist.
It looks like the end of the road for another talented prospect at Ibrox, but let’s hope he can stay injury-free and reignite his career back in his homeland.
