Philippe Clement didn’t sign Sam Lammers for Rangers.
But the Belgian manager could have a big say on where the lanky Dutch forward ends up next season.
After sanctioning a mid-season loan switch to Utrecht for the £3m striker, it’s been quite a few months for Rangers loanee Sam Lammers.
The 26-year-old forward has seven goals in six games for the Eredivisie side, breaking a 40-year record to score in six consecutive Dutch top flight games.
It’s a situation which has naturally turned heads at Rangers and Philippe Clement has admitted that Sam Lammers is under continuing consideration at Ibrox.
Philippe Clement to ‘evaluate’ Sam Lammers
Speaking ahead of Rangers’ Scottish Premiership clash with Dundee, the form of Sam Lammers formed part of a pre-match press conference.
After Philippe Clement had earlier claimed his entire Rangers team are fighting for their futures in the final furlong of the season, it’s a message which continued into the Lammers discussion.
Suggesting that the forward’s future is anything but settled, it’s clear Rangers are yet to take a decision on the £2.5m-rated striker heading into the summer.
“I didn’t speak with him but we will make this evaluation,” said Clement. “Like I said also about all the rest after the season and to see how everybody performed in this period.
“Not only me, that’s together with the people of the board to make the right decisions to make a really strong squad and even a better squad next season.”
Rangers exit “unexpected” admits striker
The Philippe Clement comments come at an interesting juncture for Sam Lammers, who is certainly making an impression at Utrecht.
With the player’s form said to be turning the heads of the likes of Feyenoord, there are expected to be suitors in January.
Rangers fans have long memories and will be well aware that the player toiled in the first half of the campaign.
But after an “unexpected” January exit, Sam Lammers himself was clear back in February that there has been no decision taken over his future.
“(An Ibrox exit) was unexpected, after a period with a lot of playing time,” Lammers, who joined Rangers in a £3 million deal from Atalanta in June, tells Voetbal International. “I had signed a four-year a contract in Scotland with the intention of staying in the same place for a long time.
“I didn’t have to leave either. FC Utrecht registered (their interest) and immediately took action. That played a role in my choice last month.
“The decisive action, the positive conversations with Jordy Zuidam (technical director) and Ron Jans (head coach), the confidence I felt, the club as a whole, my ambition to continue playing full matches every week.It became a nice package.”
When asked about his future, Lammers said: “I want continue helping Utrecht secure a place in the rankings where the club belongs. That means reaching European football.
“I want to show what I have learned in recent years, I want to increase my returns and make a good contribution to FC Utrecht.
“We have not looked beyond this half of the season. We will see what happens next after this season. But, during the period that I am here, I want to have an impact.”
Sam Lammers made 31 appearances for Rangers in the first half of the season, scoring twice.
