Rangers star Youssef Chermiti has been outlined as PSV Eindhoven’s top striker target for this summer transfer window, with the Dutch giants preparing a massive push to secure his signature.
There has been substantial interest in the Portuguese talent from several top European sides following his impressive form in Scotland, but PSV appear to be the most serious threat to land his signature in the coming weeks.
After signing for the Bears in a total package deal worth £10million last summer from Sporting CP, it’s fair to say that it took Chermiti a while to get going at Ibrox under the immense pressure of the Glasgow spotlight.
But when he finally found his feet in the Scottish Premiership, the 22-year-old showed his incredibly high ceiling with terrific individual performances, prompting Turkish giants Fenerbahce to lodge a £13million bid in the winter window.
Another Turkish side in Besiktas can be added to the growing list of clubs interested in the forward, but the arrival of Derek McInnes as the new manager at Ibrox could make things interesting for the player’s immediate future.
Rangers are fully braced for official offers to sign Chermiti, and internal club sources indicate they appear to have been in contact with PSV representatives over a potential deal during recent recruitment meetings.
Rangers tell PSV their stance on Youssef Chermiti exit
Having only signed a long-term contract last summer, any interested side would need to pay a hefty increase on the £10m spent for Chermiti almost 12 months ago to convince the board to talk.
According to reports from the Daily Record, the Gers have made it clear to PSV that they must splash “at least a double-digit number of millions” if they want any realistic chance of prying the number nine away from Ibrox.
It is understood that a figure in the region of £25m is the exact amount that would then see Rangers chiefs cave in and sell one of their most valuable assets before the market closes.
It’s not entirely known what the player himself would like to do, as having received lots of heavy criticism during his initial adaptation period last season, he could very well want a complete change of environment.
The arrival of McInnes means the manager may want to make his own transfers, and the mouth-watering possibility of getting £25m for Chermiti could appeal heavily to many decision-makers at Ibrox looking to rebuild the squad.
Financially, a sale of this magnitude would represent an astronomical profit for the Light Blues, allowing for a massive reinvestment across multiple positions that require urgent upgrading this summer.
The hierarchy at the club is well aware that Chermiti’s value has skyrocketed, but they are determined not to lose their star man for anything less than a premium fee that matches his immense long-term potential.
Negotiations between the two clubs are expected to intensify over the next fortnight, with PSV desperate to find a world-class replacement for their departing attacking options ahead of the new Eredivisie campaign.
Which Rangers striker is biggest loser under Derek McInnes?
It’s highly likely that McInnes will look to play his preferred 4-4-2 formation at Rangers, with the tactical system creating a desperate need for two top-tier strikers to lead the line together.
Lawrence Shankland’s name is already cemented on the teamsheet as the primary goalscoring threat, while finding him the perfect partner to work off could be an interesting tactical challenge for the coaching staff.
Though Chermiti is the obvious pick to partner him on paper, the former Everton man always played his best football when deployed as the lone centre-forward during his most successful spells last term.
From a purely footballing standpoint, he could end up being the biggest loser from McInnes’ tactical arrival, especially if he feels like the bears could do better if they cashed in on his high market value.
Adjusting to a dynamic two-striker system requires a completely different style of movement, and there are concerns over whether Chermiti’s attributes translate perfectly to the role McInnes envisions for his front line.
Other than that, the fringe players in the squad face an incredibly uncertain future, with Ryan Naderi and Bojan Miovski both having to prove themselves to the new manager during an intensive pre-season training camp.
Failing to impress the strict standards of the new management team may result in one of them departing the club permanently, as McInnes looks to ruthless trim the fat from a bloated first-team roster.
The tactical shift leaves very little room for error, and players who cannot quickly adapt to the physical demands of a high-pressing 4-4-2 will quickly find themselves frozen out of the matchday squads entirely.
With Shankland taking up one of the coveted starting spots, the internal competition for the remaining position is set to be fierce, making the upcoming summer friendlies absolutely crucial for every attacker at the club.
If Chermiti does end up staying past the deadline, he will need to convince McInnes that he can operate effectively in tandem with another forward, rather than demanding the central spotlight all to himself.
The ongoing speculation surrounding the PSV interest will certainly not help his focus, and the Rangers board must act swiftly to either reject the approaches or finalize a record-breaking transfer package.
As the transfer drama unfolds, fans are left wondering if the Portuguese star has already played his final game in the famous blue shirt, or if he will spearhead the new era under McInnes’ leadership.
The coming days will be pivotal for the direction of the club’s transfer business, with the Chermiti decision holding the key to the entire summer budget and the profile of players arriving at Ibrox.
