The costly experiment of Youssef Chermiti at Rangers appears to be nearing a painful conclusion. With just a single goal from 16 appearances following his £8 million summer move from Everton, the pressure is mounting for a solution that might salvage some value from the significant outlay.
A Point of No Return Reached at Ibrox
The Portuguese forward's torturous time in Glasgow seemed to hit a new low during the midweek clash with Dundee United. With Rangers trailing 2-1 late on, Chermiti missed a glaring, point-blank header that looked easier to score. That moment felt symbolic for many supporters, crystallising the growing belief that his future lies away from Ibrox.
His meagre return of one goal in 16 outings is deemed unacceptable for a signing of such financial magnitude, regardless of his age or relative inexperience. The frustration is not limited to the stands; teammates have also been left exasperated by his contributions on the pitch.
The Ghost of Portuguese Forwards Past
Chermiti's struggles evoke memories of another Portuguese attacker who failed to ignite at Rangers: Fabio Silva. The parallels are striking, right down to the ill-advised hand gesture made to the Ibrox crowd. Silva, on loan from Wolves, managed six goals but departed with his reputation diminished.
However, Silva's story offers a glimmer of hope for the Rangers hierarchy. After leaving Glasgow, he joined Spanish side Las Palmas, where he rediscovered his scoring touch with 10 goals, earned a Portugal call-up, and secured a £20 million transfer to Borussia Dortmund. This demonstrates that a change of scenery to a less pressured environment can resurrect a career and, crucially, market value.
A Loan Move: The Pragmatic Solution for Gers
For Rangers, the most pragmatic path forward now seems to be orchestrating a loan exit for Chermiti. The logic, while counter-intuitive for a club short on goals, is rooted in cold, hard finance. The current trajectory sees his value plummeting weekly.
A move to a club with lower expectations, perhaps in a league like Portugal's Primeira Liga, could provide the platform he needs. Reports have previously linked him with Sporting Braga, a top-six Portuguese side competing in the Europa League. Such a setting might allow him to showcase the talent that prompted Everton and Rangers to spend a combined £20 million-plus on him in recent years.
For new head coach Danny Rohl and chairman Andrew Cavenagh, the priority must be freeing up resources and squad space for a rebuild. Letting Chermiti continue his struggle at Ibrox benefits no one. A successful loan spell elsewhere could rebuild his confidence and his price tag, offering Rangers their best—and perhaps only—hope of securing a return on their £8 million splurge.
