Glasgow Rangers attacker Hamza Igamane has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season.
The Moroccan aroused many eyebrows among supporters when he arrived at Ibrox, but his performances on the pitch proved all of them incorrect.
Igamane was recently named Scottish Premiership Player of the Month for his outstanding performance in January, scoring five goals, including a stunning hat-trick against Hibernians.
Philippe Clement possesses a special talent. The question is: how long will he be a Rangers player?
Hamza Igamane’s future with Rangers
The 22-year-old scored against Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League just before Christmas, helping the Gers earn a draw against the North Londoners. Following the game, allegations surfaced that Everton scouts had traveled to observe the striker in action.
The Toffees weren’t the only team showing an interest in the Moroccan sensation; West Ham United, Bournemouth, Brentford, Fulham, and Newcastle United had all seen him play.
The Toffees weren’t the only team showing an interest in the Moroccan sensation; West Ham United, Bournemouth, Brentford, Fulham, and Newcastle United had all seen him play.
Igamane won’t be at Ibrox for long, especially if he keeps up his present level of play until the end of the season.
Hamza Igamane’s Season in Numbers
A return of 13 goals in 28 matches is amazing, especially given that he had never played senior football outside of Africa until moving to Scotland last summer.
Perhaps the most astonishing element is how well Igamane has done throughout Europe. Many expected him to be granted little playing time in the early months of the season, but four goals in the Europa League show how successful the former AS FAR centre-forward has been in the final third.
When compared to his positional peers in Europe’s secondary competition, Igamane currently ranks in the top 2% for non-penalty goals (1.01), the top 5% for successful take-ons (2.53) and in the top 13% for shot-creating actions across the tournament this season so far.
No wonder clubs such as Everton are taking interest in the youngster, who, if he carries on like this, will have an extraordinarily bright future in football. No doubt about that.
It may prove to be difficult for the Light Blues to keep him at the club beyond this summer, especially with Premier League clubs sniffing around him.
Signing a potential replacement this month might be stretching things, especially as there are several areas which require strengthening first, but another centre-forward must surely be signed this summer.
It looks as though the manager is looking at options already, as the Ibrox side have been linked with a former international striker…
Rangers could land dream Igamane replacement
As reported earlier this week by journalist Alan Nixon, Rangers are monitoring the situation of Nottingham Forest centre-forward Emmanuel Dennis, who is seeking to end his nightmare spell at the club.
Championship clubs like Watford and Sheffield Wednesday are also interested in the Nigerian international striker, but the Gers may have the upper hand, especially given the opportunity to play in Europe and compete for trophies.
Dennis has not been picked to any matchday squads this season by manager Nuno Espirito Santo, and his last appearance for the club was in May 2023.
Could Dennis be a suitable substitute for Igamane? It remains to be seen whether Clement is pursuing a move before the window closes, or whether he will wait until the summer transfer season.
The £40,000-per-week striker may not have had an impact for Forest this season, but there is no doubt that with the right club, he could shine.
Indeed, he made his Champions League debut in 2018, scoring twice for Club Brugge in a 2-2 draw with Real Madrid.
Following these performances for the Belgian team, Dennis joined Watford for a sum of around £3.6 million, which proved to be a fantastic piece of transfer business by the club.
A return of 10 Premier League goals and six assists may not have been enough to keep the Vicarage Road side in the top level, but his efforts piqued the interest of Forest, who paid £20 million to bring him to the club in August 2022.
However, the move was unsuccessful, with only two Premier League goals in 2022/23. Manager Steve Cooper heaped much of praise on the 27-year-old upon his arrival, saying:
“He (Dennis) can be a game changer and match winner. He did that and had some great moments at Watford last season.”
Last season’s loan periods with Basaksehir and Watford resulted in only four goals, but it is clear that leaving Forest would allow him to play more consistently.
Igamane should stay at Rangers until at least the summer, but the more goals he scores, the more difficult it will be for Clement to retain him at the club.
The Gers must avoid prior transfer market blunders. Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos were two highly valued assets at the club who could have been transferred for millions.
The board, however, allowed both of their contracts to expire, resulting in the pair leaving for nothing in May 2023. The same cannot be said about Igamane. Clement must negotiate the finest feasible agreement for the player.
If so, hiring Dennis as a replacement could be a prudent decision, especially given his exceptional goal-scoring abilities.
The next several days at Ibrox might be really fascinating. Expect at least one more signing before the window shuts.
Let’s hope Igamane doesn’t go the other way.
