Sam Lammers, Rangers fans will be unsurprised to hear, has scored again for Utrecht.
In a quite remarkable season of two halves, the 27-year-old Dutch forward has been a revelation on his Eredivisie return and continued his fine scoring form this week.
Netting Utrecht’s second goal in an enthralling 3-3 draw with AZ Alkmaar, Sam Lammers took his tally to 10 for the season for the Dutch club.
It’s also nine goals in ten games.
As a result of Lammers’ exploits back in Holland, as you can imagine Utrecht are fairly keen on extending the deal.
But speaking after the striker’s latest goal for the club, Utrecht technical director Jordy Zuidam revealed that a permanent transfer could yet fall apart over one crucial detail.
Utrecht hit Lammers stumbling block
Speaking following the 3-3 draw with AZ, Zuidam was glowing in his appraisal of Sam Lammers.
Claiming that the Rangers loanee just loves to play the game, the plaudits raining down on the £3.5m summer signing are in stark contrast to the criticism Sam received in Scotland.
Fluffing his lines and at times cutting a forlorn figure who struggled with the weight of expectation in Glasgow, Lammers had similar toils in Serie A.
Back in the Netherlands the forward has found a level where his not inconsiderable talents in front of goal and on the ball can shine.
But it’s that clear talent which sees Sam Lammers on a hefty wage at Ibrox and in revealing comments Jordy Zuidam has claimed it could be a stumbling block to any deal being completed.
Remarkably, it also means that Rangers are likely forking out a decent chunk of Lammers’ wages just so he could go out on loan in the second half of the season.
Nonetheless, Utrecht are clear that they will be doing everything in their power to sign Lammers permanently next season.
‘We want to sign Rangers striker’
“We are fully committed to that opportunity,” explains Jordy Zuidam, as quoted by Voetbal Primeur. “It was already exciting last winter, when we did everything we could.
“We are very happy that we succeeded, and it will be just as exciting again whether we can keep him.
“He is a very important link within our team. So you want to go far for that. The only question is: is it far enough how far we can go? That remains to be seen.
“But it is of course clear that this boy is above our salary cap, and that we have now found a model with Rangers that is acceptable to us. We now have to look to hopefully find a way to keep him.
“We have spoken to him several times, and he is really a boy who is obsessed with football. He has said that he wants to finish the season, but is definitely considering it.
“Apart from the sporting aspects, there is more to it, and now the question is: can that come together? We will look for all possibilities to keep him. I hope that is enough.”
Rangers are believed to value Sam Lammers around £2.5m although with the striker’s form back in the Netherlands, perhaps it’s a figure we could soon be revising.
