Derek McInnes has barely had time to unpack his office box at Ibrox, and already the hammer is dropping: Djeidi Gassama, brought in just twelve months ago during the summer window of 2025, looks increasingly like the first major casualty of the new era. Reports from Calum Crowe in the Scottish Mail on Sunday, via Transfer Feed, indicate that Rangers are actively listening to offers for the Mauritanian international winger. It’s a shock move, but McInnes’s direction is crystal clear: wide areas need urgent fixing.
The Numbers Tell a Story, But It Ain’t Magic
Rangers shelled out roughly £2 million for Gassama from Sheffield Wednesday, and on paper, his debut season looks like a solid chunk of work. The guy featured in 56 matchday squads across all competitions, putting a whopping 3,577 minutes into his legs. That’s a lot of running! Domestically, he had 38 appearances in the William Hill Premiership, including 26 starts, bagging three goals and five assists over 2,426 minutes. And out in Europe, in eight UEFA Europa League ties, he notched two goals and created seven chances. His overall tally? Five goals and five assists.
But here’s the kicker: his Premiership match rating was 6.95. That tells the true tale. He was reliable. Workmanlike. Rarely a disaster, sure, but also rarely the bloke who turns a tight afternoon around through pure magic. And when a fresh manager walks into Ibrox and immediately targets two players in your exact position, you know the writing is on the wall.
Why ‘Workmanlike’ Just Won’t Cut It
McInnes wants at least two new wide men. That’s not a subtle hint; that tells you everything about how he views the hand he was dealt. Keeping Gassama around simply as a bench option makes little financial sense when you’re trying to fund a rebuild. This isn’t about disrespect; it’s about cold, hard cash and strategic vision. Recouping a fee between £3.5 million and £6 million for Gassama is realistic, with English Championship sides and lower-tier Bundesliga clubs always on the lookout for raw pace.
Making a profit on a £2 million outlay isn’t groundbreaking, but in Scottish football, every penny matters. The margins are tight, and you need to retool an entire front line to compete. “Adequate” doesn’t cut it when Celtic is setting the pace domestically and European nights demand an extra gear. Gassama gave Rangers honest minutes, but McInnes needs match-winners. If an offer comes in that covers the initial outlay with some top-up, taking the money and handing McInnes the keys to rebuild is the only sensible move.
If a decent bid hits the boardroom table over the coming weeks, Gassama is gone. McInnes isn’t waiting around; he’s reshaping this squad to get those match-winners he clearly believes are missing. Keep your eyes peeled, because this is just the beginning of what looks like a very busy summer window at Ibrox.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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