Rangers boss Philippe Clement has stated that the club needs to sell players before they can make new purchases this summer.
The Belgian manager has highlighted that the club’s ineffective player trading model is causing issues amid what he describes as a “massive rebuild.” While initial claims that Clement was misled by the Board were short-lived, the fundamental issue remains: Rangers must sell players to generate funds and clear enough salary cap space to support their summer transfer plans.
However, there is a significant £3.5m issue causing headaches at the club this summer. The situation with Dutch player Sam Lammers, who joined Rangers on a £3.5m deal from Serie A side Atalanta, has been problematic. Former Rangers manager Michael Beale had hoped Lammers could unlock his technical abilities, but Lammers struggled under the pressure at Ibrox.
A loan move to Utrecht in January, approved by the new Rangers recruitment team, was meant to attract interest from Eredivisie clubs. Despite Lammers’ successful performance in the Dutch league, scoring 11 goals last season, a permanent move back to the Netherlands has not materialized.
The primary obstacle isn’t Rangers’ £2.7m asking price but Lammers’ substantial salary of €1.5m (£1.3m) per year, or £25k per week. According to the Daily Record, Lammers would need to reduce his salary to around €500k per year, or approximately £10k per week, to facilitate a move to Holland.