Rangers tipped to agree Youssef Chermiti deal that lands ‘very good return’
Youssef Chermiti needs to score more goals on a regular basis if he is to remain at Rangers beyond this season.
That is according to ex-Aberdeen, Aston Villa, and Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who still thinks it may be best for Rangers and Chermiti to part ways in the summer.
That is despite Chermiti netting a hat-trick for Rangers against Hearts last time out in a crucial victory for Danny Rohl’s side in the Scottish Premiership title race.
The 21-year-old also bagged a double against Celtic in a Glasgow derby win in January, but otherwise the striker has struggled for form in his first season at the club.
Rangers ‘prepared to get behind’ Youssef Chermiti
Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Chermiti still needs to improve areas of his game.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks Rangers would be “happy” if they could strike a good deal for Chermiti in the summer transfer window.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Now, obviously, Kevin Thelwell was getting blamed for that, and they thought they’d overpaid. Now they would say, ok, look, he scored some crucial goals in some big games for us.
“So they’re prepared to get behind him now. And he is showing that he can settle down, and he can do it. He is a big specimen, he’s a young talent, but he’s got to get more to his game in terms of just turning up for the big games. He’s got to start scoring on a regular basis.
“His link-up play has got to improve. His first touch has got to improve, but there’s no doubt he’s a very talented specimen and Rangers could do well if they can get him firing for the second part of the season. And if he was to go in the summer, they’d get a very good return on him if he can score, you know, another five, seven, eight goals.
“I think they’ll get a good return on their investment and that would make everybody happy, and it would be best for them to move on in the summer.”
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Danny Rohl decision vindicated in Hearts win
Rangers’ decision to not allow Chermiti to leave Ibrox in the January window paid off against Hearts, but Rohl’s side face more crucial games in pursuit of the title.
Whilst a trip to bottom side Livingston next should earn Rangers three more points, they then face a double header at Ibrox against Celtic in league and cup.
Those two games could define whether Rohl wins silverware in his first season in charge, so he will be looking at players like Chermiti to step up.