Rangers manager Philippe Clement has emphasized the necessity for the club to offload players before they can make new signings this summer. He pointed out that Rangers’ current player trading strategy is hindering their progress during what he describes as a significant rebuilding phase.
While initial concerns about the board misleading Clement have subsided, the fundamental issue remains unchanged. Rangers must generate funds by selling players and reducing their wage bill to finance their summer transfer activities.
However, there is a particular £3.5 million issue looming over the club, causing considerable concern among Rangers’ staff and management this summer.
A Dutch club has been deterred from signing Lammers due to pricing issues.
It has been evident since January that Sam Lammers would not continue as a Rangers player. Signed for a significant £3.5 million from Serie A’s Atalanta, Michael Beale believed Lammers could unlock his technical potential at Rangers.
However, the Dutch striker struggled under the intensity of playing at Ibrox, leading to a loan move to Utrecht in January, which was intended to attract interest from Eredivisie clubs. Despite Lammers’ resurgence in the Netherlands, scoring 11 goals in the Eredivisie last season, no move back has materialized.
Initially, Utrecht withdrew from pursuing Lammers, followed by AZ Alkmaar opting to sign Troy Parrott from Spurs instead of pursuing Lammers. Most recently, FC Twente also decided against signing him, despite Rangers setting a reasonable £2.7 million transfer fee.
The primary obstacle appears to be Lammers’ exorbitant salary of €1.5 million (£1.3 million) per year, equivalent to £25,000 per week, which is prohibitive for Dutch clubs. Reports suggest Lammers would need to reduce his salary to around €500,000 per year (£10,000 per week) to facilitate a move back to Holland.
This situation reflects poorly on all parties involved. Rangers, who granted Michael Beale significant spending authority last summer, now face criticism for overspending on a player who has not lived up to expectations. Lammers’ career has been marred by underwhelming spells across multiple clubs and countries before his move to Rangers.
Currently training with Rangers’ B Team, Lammers’ reluctance to leave despite not fitting into the first-team plans complicates the situation further. It remains unlikely that he will integrate into Philippe Clement’s squad, as the player has made clear his desire to depart.
The predicament underscores potential financial mismanagement by Rangers, with the total expenditure on transfer fees and wages for Lammers potentially reaching £7.5 million over his three-year contract. This scenario has raised concerns among Rangers fans about recurring issues with expensive transfers and player contracts, reminiscent of past problematic signings like Carlos Pena.
In summary, Rangers find themselves in a challenging position with Sam Lammers, highlighting ongoing concerns about financial prudence under the current board’s stewardship.
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