Rangers may have been forced to part ways with Hamza Igamane in the last transfer window following disciplinary issues that strained his relationship with the club.
Manager Russell Martin found the 22-year-old striker unreliable, particularly after Igamane refused to come off the bench during a 1-1 draw against St Mirren on 24 August in the William Hill Premiership an incident that made his position at Ibrox untenable.
As a result, Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell sanctioned a £10 million deal with French side LOSC Lille, who are now banking on the Moroccan international to fulfil his potential. The move came after the striker was reportedly offered to six clubs.
Lille’s €11m Move for Hamza Igamane Praised After Striker Scores for Morocco
Hamza Igamane’s transfer to LOSC Lille is looking like a smart piece of business after the striker scored in Morocco’s 2-0 win over Zambia in World Cup Qualifiers on 8 September.
According to Footmercato journalist Sébastien Denis, Igamane had been offered to six Ligue 1 clubs during the summer window, but only Lille decided to take the risk and sign him from Rangers. Denis praised the French side for backing the 22-year-old, despite his relatively high €11 million price tag.
Taking to X on 8 September, Denis wrote: “Igamane was offered to six Ligue 1 teams this summer, and only Lille truly committed. Thank you to Lille for believing in him. Sure, €11m might seem steep but when you look at the fees paid for other strikers this summer…”
Rangers Reinvest Hamza Igamane Fee in £10m Youssef Chermiti Signing from Everton
Rangers have used the funds from Hamza Igamane’s sale to back another striker gamble, signing Youssef Chermiti from Everton in a deal worth £10 million including add-ons. The move, led by sporting director Kevin Thelwell, raised eyebrows among fans, given Chermiti’s underwhelming spell at Everton, where he failed to register a goal or assist in 24 appearances.
Now 21, the Portugal Under-21 international arrives at Ibrox with plenty to prove as he looks to make an impact in Scottish football. He’ll be competing with Bojan Miovski, whose strong record at Aberdeen 44 goals and 7 assists in 98 appearances makes him a likely first-choice option under Russell Martin.
Rangers have struggled early in the season, with 17 goals conceded and only 15 scored across 11 matches, including four straight draws in the league. Martin will be hoping that both Chermiti and Miovski can step up, starting with a crucial clash against Hearts on 13 September.
