Debate rages over whether Youssef Chermiti was worth the £8m fee Glasgow Rangers paid him in last summer’s transfer window.
He had some memorable moments in a Gers shirt, scoring a hat-trick against Hearts and an overhead kick against Celtic, but the lack of consistency in his play is concerning.
In games against teams other than Celtic or Hearts, the Portuguese U21 player has scored one goal in 19 games in the Scottish Premiership this season.
The former Everton number nine has failed to score in any of his last 15 games against sides outside the top three in the division, after coming off the bench to miss a ‘big chance’ against Dundee United on Saturday.
Chermiti has scored nine goals in 24 games in this division so far, with eight of those goals coming against Celtic and Hearts, and needs to show consistency in front of goal to prove his worth.
Rangers are eyeing a contract for the Championship striker
The Portuguese striker currently has Ryan Naderi and Bojan Miovski, who both played for Dundee United, as competition for his place in the team at Ibrox.
Chermiti’s place in the squad could come under a lot of pressure in the 2026/27 campaign as the Light Blues are reportedly looking to strengthen their squad by adding another forward.
According to journalist Alan Nixon’s Patreon, Glasgow Rangers are looking to swoop for Leeds United centre-forward Joe Gelhardt in the summer transfer window.
The reporter claims that the Light Blues are monitoring his progress on loan at Championship side Hull City, and that they will have an edge over the Tigers in the race for his services due to the 49ers’ link between Rangers and Leeds.
Nixon added that the Scottish giants also have more money than Hull and could afford the striker, while the English club may have to secure promotion to the Premier League to fund the move.
It was reported in February that the Whites are expected to demand up to £5m for the England striker, meaning the Gers could see a £5m offer accepted for his services if they decide to make a bid this summer.
Why Gelhardt will be an upgrade on Chermiti at Rangers
If the Light Blues complete a deal to sign Gelhardt from Leeds ahead of Hull in the summer transfer window, Chermiti could find himself on the bench more often.
The 23-year-old star’s form on loan from Hull in the Championship this season suggests he will come in to complement Chermiti as a goalscorer.
Gelhardt is not a very physical forward, standing at 5 foot 9, but the Gers now have the 6 foot 4 German giant Naderi to provide a physical outlet at the end of the field, which would allow a smaller physical and forward striker to play next to him.
The left-winger, who has scored 13 Championship goals for Hull so far this season, four more than Chermiti has already managed for Rangers, who are fighting for the league title.
Gelhardt has been incredibly effective in front of goal for the Tigers, missing just seven ‘big chances’, while Chermiti has missed 15 ‘big chances’ in 24 league games for the Light Blues.
|
25/26 league season |
Gelhardt |
Chermiti |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearance |
33 |
24 |
|
xG |
10.54 |
8.85 |
|
Goals |
13 |
9 |
|
Great opportunities have been created |
4 |
2 |
|
xA |
3.93 |
1.24 |
|
It helps |
4 |
3 |
|
Dribbles completed per game |
1.3 |
0.9 |
The Leeds loanee, who was once described as a “ball that hurts a man” by Jamie Redknapp, also surpassed his xG above the Rangers striker, with his 13 goals coming at 10.53 xG.
These figures suggest that Gelhardt will have a much better life than Chermiti in front of goal for the Light Blues if they agree to a deal to sign him to the Premier League club ahead of next season.
The English striker’s creative numbers also suggest he has the potential to offer more to the team as a creative threat, amassing three times the xA in just nine appearances than the Portuguese’s mark.
Therefore, Rangers could improve their squad and add more firepower to Danny Rohl’s side by rushing to sign Gelhardt from Leeds for £5m this summer as an upgrade on Chermiti.
Rohl could replace Naderi by releasing the Rangers star who is not even a striker
Danny Rohl could relieve Ryan Naderi from injury by letting go of a star who isn’t even a middle infielder.
