Considering the circumstances around Rangers’ underwhelming start to the season, the prospect of more signings being the solution feels a rather fanciful one.
The work of Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen has come under increasing scrutiny of late, exacerbated by Wednesday’s damaging 2-1 defeat at Premiership pacesetters Aberdeen.
Only three of this summer’s signings started as Mohamed Diomande and Robin Propper were dropped to the bench. Cyriel Dessers, brought in for pretty much the same fee Celtic paid for Kyogo Furuhashi, endured a miserable evening in attack.
And while Koppen does deserve credit for the signings of Jefte and Hamza Igamane – two little-known youngsters snapped up from lesser-utilised markets – it’s fair to say Rangers’ recruitment chief is yet to really win over the majority.
So as Ibrahim Adel seemingly keeps the door open ahead of a potential move to Scotland in 2025, a disillusioned Gers fanbase could be forgiven for keeping their excitement in check.
- READ MORE: Rangers Transfer History 2016-Present
Ibrahim Adel keeps door open to Rangers ahead of January transfer window
The Egypt international continues to ply his trade in his homeland for the fittingly-named Pyramids FC.
Rangers did hold talks with Adel late in the summer window, according to one Egyptian source. But potential £4.5 million moves to Ibrox and La Liga outfit Getafe collapsed before the September deadline.
“Rangers entered into negotiations to sign the player,” an unnamed Pyramids FC ‘official’ tells Laila Kora,. “But they stopped due to the failure to reach an agreement with the club regarding the financial considerations.”
Speaking of sources, one speaking on behalf of Ibrahim Adel himself is now spelling out what the talented winger has planned for 2025.
Via Gomhuria Online, they say that Adel is holding out for a move to Europe. He is allegedly ready to turn down a move to Al-Ahly, potentially in the hope that either Rangers or Getafe make a move again in the near future.
Whether they do, of course, only time will tell.
Rangers already have an in-form left-winger in Nedim Bajrami
There is no doubting Adel’s quality. He already has two goals to show from three appearances at the start of 2024/25.
“Ibrahim Adel is a huge talent for us and for Egyptian football,” says Pyramids FC’s director of football Mahmoud Fathallah recently told King Fut.
But whether he is a talent Rangers really need is another debate. Clement’s side brought in another right-sided left winger on deadline day in the shape of Nedim Bajrami.
And with Tom Lawrence capable of playing wide on the flank too – not to mention the currently-injured but highly-gifted Oscar Cortes – the left-wing spot would maybe seem like an odd position to reinforc. Especially should Pyramids FC continue to hold out for £4.5 million.
Bajrami was, after all, one of very few positives to come out of Rangers’ loss at Pittodrie.
His wonderful solo effort was a moment of genuine individual brilliance to light up a performance otherwise lacking in inspiration.
“I find myself really enjoying my football with them, even if I play on the left,” the Albanian said after shining as Rangers thrashed Romanian giants FCSB 4-0 in the Europa League, talking up his growing understanding with Lawrence and rampaging left-back Jefte.
“I think Hamza and Jefte can be top players in the next few years. I think if they do good here, they have a big future ahead. And they have to work a lot because football is like that.”
