Rangers Face Turmoil as Chermiti Suffers ACL Injury

Rangers’ early-season plans have been thrown into turmoil after Youssef Chermiti suffered a serious ACL injury in Sunday’s defeat to Hibernian at Ibrox – just hours after the club had knocked back a major bid from Galatasaray for the striker.

The 22-year-old went down in the first half after a heavy collision with the pitchside boards, a seemingly innocuous chase turning into the kind of moment that silences a stadium. He was stretchered off, later leaving Ibrox in a protective boot with his knee strapped in a brace. The diagnosis is grim: he will be out for “a significant period of time”.

For a new manager already under pressure, the timing could hardly be worse.

From prized asset to long-term absentee

Chermiti arrived from Everton last summer in a deal worth up to £10m, a sizeable investment that Rangers believed would anchor their attack for years. He quickly justified the outlay. Fifteen goals and five assists across all competitions last season turned him from a promising signing into one of the club’s most valuable assets.

Rangers’ hierarchy know exactly what they have. Those numbers, combined with his age and potential, have led decision-makers at Ibrox to rate him above the club-record sale of Calvin Bassey, who joined Ajax for an initial £19.6m in 2023.

So when Galatasaray tested their resolve with a big-money offer, Rangers pushed it back. The message was clear: this was a forward to build around, not cash in on.

Hours later, he was on a stretcher.

Speaking after the defeat to Hibs, which leaves Derek McInnes still searching for his first win as Rangers boss after three games, the manager cut a frustrated figure as he reflected on the loss of his main striker.

He described being “disappointed for the big fella that he has to come off on a stretcher”, and highlighted how bright Chermiti had looked, running channels and offering purpose at the top end of the pitch. McInnes admitted Rangers missed that presence once he departed, noting the player left the ground in a boot with his knee braced.

He also underlined why Rangers had resisted Galatasaray’s interest, calling Chermiti a player with a “big tag” and “high potential”, and stressing that “thankfully he’s our player and that will continue to be the case.”

Now, that prized asset becomes a long-term absentee. The rebuild McInnes is overseeing just became more complicated.

Driouech deal close as Rangers accelerate rebuild

If Chermiti’s injury is a major setback, Rangers’ response in the market shows no sign of slowing.

Nine new faces have already arrived this summer, and the tenth is all but through the door. A £6.5m fee has been agreed with PSV Eindhoven for winger Couhaib Driouech, who is finalising his medical and paperwork before making the move to Ibrox.

Driouech brings end product and European experience. He has scored 12 goals in 61 games for PSV, including three in last season’s Champions League, and added 10 assists. Born in Holland, he previously turned out for Heerenveen and Excelsior, and has been capped by Morocco at U23 level.

Burnley and Celta Vigo had also shown interest, but Rangers have moved decisively. With Chermiti sidelined, the need for attacking threat from wide areas becomes even more acute. Driouech will be expected to deliver quickly.

The recruitment drive will not stop there. At the club’s shareholder meeting on Monday, chairman Andrew Cavenagh confirmed Rangers intend to add between three and five more players before the window closes.

The defence is firmly in the spotlight. The backline is among the areas earmarked for strengthening before Scotland’s 5pm deadline on September 3, with options already being worked through.

Aston Villa right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic has emerged as a possible target after initial talks, while Hugo Siquet of Club Brugge is also under consideration. On the opposite flank, Rangers have held discussions over a move for former Hearts left-back James Penrice, currently with Greek side AEK.

A pivotal stretch for McInnes and Rangers

All of this unfolds against a backdrop of a stuttering start under McInnes. No wins from his first three games, a home defeat to Hibernian, and now the loss of his leading striker for months. The margins at a club of Rangers’ size are unforgiving.

The board’s transfer backing is obvious. Money is being spent, deals are being chased, and the squad is being reshaped at speed. Yet the Chermiti injury strips away a focal point just as the season begins to harden.

Driouech’s arrival, and the defensive reinforcements to come, will help define how quickly Rangers can absorb this blow. The strategy is clear. The question is whether it can hold under the weight of expectation and the absence of the man they had planned to build around.