Glasgow Rangers have less than two weeks to prepare for their first competitive match of the 2025/26 season.
Russell Martin’s side fought back to draw 2-2 against Club Brugge last week, with the second-half performance more in line with what the manager wants to see from his squad this term.
The clash against Panathinaikos will be a much tougher affair, however, but the former Southampton boss has wasted no time in signing the players that will fit his tactical system.
Indeed, Max Aarons, Joe Rothwell, Thelo Aasgaard, Emmanuel Fernandez and Nasser Djiga have all made the move to Ibrox in recent weeks.
It is a solid start, but there are still other areas which require improvement. Martin has been linked with making a move for Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Carl Rushworth recently in a bid to challenge Jack Butland between the sticks.
Martin also appears keen to bring in a couple of wingers to the squad during the transfer window. At the time of writing, only Ross McCausland, Oscar Cortes and Rabbi Matondo are available to the manager on either flank.
As such, several names have been linked with a move. Djeidi Gassama looks close to sealing a switch to the Light Blues, but just what can he offer the club?
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Transfer Focus
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If you take away the 18 goals and nine assists notched up by Vaclav Cerny, the remaining widemen in the squad registered just nine goal contributions between them.
Another campaign without greater contributions from the wingers will see the Gers finish second behind Celtic once again.
Metric
Cerny
McCausland
Matondo
Goals
12
0
2
Assists
4
1
2
Key passes per game
2.5
0.6
0.8
Successful dribbles per game
1.4
0.8
1.3
Big chances created
6
0
2
Shots per game
2.9
1.2
1.7
As such, a move for Gassama sounds promising indeed, especially judging by his performances for Sheffield Wednesday.
The left-winger came through the PSG youth system, before making the move to Belgium in 2022. A year later, the Owls came calling and the 21-year-old has scored 12 goals and grabbed four assists across 84 matches for the club.
Amid the links to the exciting youngster, content creator and scout, Kai Watson, profiled Gassama, saying:
“He’s capable of producing moments of brilliance although hasn’t quite hit a consistency level with his end product yet. He loves carrying the ball, running at defenders and has great close control in tight areas.
“Sheffield Wednesday fans have suggested that he’s unstoppable on his day but can be frustrating at times.”
Depending on the fee, this move could either turn out to be a masterstroke, or it will end in disappointment.
Given the need for wingers to arrive and settle straight into the first-team squad, if Gassama does wrap up a move soon, he will need to lay down a marker swiftly.
He isn’t the only winger being linked with a move to Ibrox, as Martin has clearly targeted several in the hopes of signing two or more this summer.
Latest on Rangers' search for a winger
As well as Gassama, the Light Blues have been touted as making moves for David Brooks, Thierno Ballo and even Josh Windass in recent weeks.
It is clear the Ibrox side aren’t going to be able to sign every winger they are linked with. That’s for sure.
According to Sky Sports reporter Sahil Jaidka, the Light Blues are seemingly “weighing up” a move for Hull City star Abu Kamara in the coming days.
Kamara has been with the Tigers since last summer, but it looks as though he wants out of the club. They are suffering financial issues, which could open the door for Martin to perhaps seal him for a knockdown price.
He has plenty of experience down south. The question is, would he be a better signing than Gassama for the manager?
Why Rangers must sign Abu Kamara
Throughout his embryonic career thus far, Kamara has already racked up 95 senior appearances for Hull, Portsmouth and Norwich, scoring 16 goals and grabbing 15 assists for these clubs.
He shone for Portsmouth during the 2023/24 campaign, recording 18 goal involvements in League One as the club secured a place back in the second tier.
Kamara returned to the Championship last season and performed fairly well for Hull, chipping in with eight goal contributions.
The 21-year-old also managed to create seven big chances for the Tigers in the Championship, while also grabbing three assists and finishing the season with a 14% goal conversion percentage.
In comparison, Gassama could only create three big chances, recorded a single assist and finished the campaign with a 10% goal conversion percentage.
Furthermore, Kamara also delivered more crosses into the attacking penalty area last season compared to Gassama (55 vs 44), while he also registered more goals and assists per game (0.32 vs 0.24) than the Sheffield Wednesday starlet.
These statistics show that there is not much between the pair of wingers. Ideally, Martin would look to sign both in the coming weeks, really giving his Rangers squad a boost heading into the Champions League qualifiers.
The £5k-per-week winger has been lauded for his ability in the past, with former teammate Conor Shaughnessy lavishing the most praise on his talents, describing him as a “dangerous” talent on the right wing.
Kamara has the potential to truly shine in Scotland should he secure a move to Ibrox this summer. The chance to challenge for trophies and play European football should be enough of an enticement for the youngster.
If so, Martin would be bolstering his options on the right flank. That much is certain.
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