Speaking on the other side of Christmas, Piotr Kasprzak – a scout who works for Rangers in Eastern Europe – admitted that the Scottish Premiership champions were priced out of a deal to sign a talented young attacker who would eventually secure himself a £7 million move later that year.
Two years on, when the opportunity arose to finally bring in one of the club’s long-term targets without spending a single penny in transfer fees, Rangers understandably jumped at such a chance.
And Abdallah Sima has certainly been worth waiting for. With 16 goals in all competitions from the wing, the Senegal international’s sizzling form north of the border offers a reminder as to why he was linked with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United not so long ago, and why he was once compared to a young Thierry Henry.
Sima, despite his obvious talent, is yet to make a single first-team appearance for a Brighton side who have the magical Kaoru Mitoma operating in his preferred position. And, after difficult spells out on loan at Stoke City and Angers, Sima feels that Rangers have been as good for him as he has been for them.
Brighton loanee Abdallah Sima ‘happy’ at Rangers
“This was the perfect team for me, you know, as a young player to get games and experience. Team-mates really help, (there are) some experienced players. So I’m really happy to be here,” Sima says at his Friday press conference, broadcast on Rangers’ official YouTube channel.
“I didn’t expect it, to have a season like this, to be honest. But I’m a winner and I want to win everything here. That’s why I joined the club. So I hope to give everything for this club and for the fans, because they deserve that.”
Sima, his short-term deal expiring this summer, does not sound like a man who is in a rush to return to Brighton.
For all of The Seagulls recent success when it comes to signing talented, hungry up-and-comers, Sima – like Viktor Gyokeres and Denis Undav, prolific these days at Sporting Lisbon and Stuttgart – has been a man reborn away from the South Coast.
How much will Rangers have to pay?
When the prospect of a permanent stay at Rangers was brought up, Sima was reluctant to give much away even if he was keen to reiterate just how much he is enjoying life at Ibrox.
“I am really happy here, you know?,” adds Sima, who marked his return from injury with a goal in the 3-3 Old Firm derby draw with Celtic. “My family as well.”
Rangers, obviously, would relish the prospect of tying down Sima on a long-term contract. Whether they can, or whether they will be priced out like they were back in 2021, will depend on how much Brighton want for a man who is currently due to become a free agent in just over 12 months’ time.
Sima is likely to feature in Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final clash with Hearts at Hampden Park.
