No sooner than the ink had dried on Rangers’ deal for Oscar Cortes were fans asking the Abdallah Sima question.
The Gers have announced that young Colombian winger Oscar Cortes, 20, has once again joined the club, not that he ever left.
Rangers defied reports coming out of France to announce that the winger would be joining on an initial second loan with an obligation to cough up £4m next summer.
With Fabio Silva confirming that he will not be kept on next season, it raises questions over the future of Abdallah Sima.
Having suggested that he’d like to make his move to Rangers permanent, managerial uncertainty at Premier League Brighton is threatening to derail the Ibrox side’s plans.
Brighton manager hunt holds up Sima deal?
Brighton are on the hunt for a new manager and like every other club in the same position, things are not going well.
There is a dearth of managerial talent out there at the moment and following the departure of Roberto de Zerbi in the summer Brighton’s hunt continues.
With Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna having signed a new contract at the Tractor Boys, the situation is getting a tad drastic.
The list of names in the running is topped by former Seagulls boss Graham Potter, who was of course linked to the gig at Rangers.
There is also the likes of ex-Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper and former Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick, who is currently in charge of Middlesbrough.
From a Rangers point of view, the situation almost certainly complicates the club’s pursuit of Abdallah Sima with the Senegalese forward’s future unclear.
When a new manager comes into a club they ordinarily want to cast an eye over the club’s assets and Sima is contracted for up to another two years on the south coast.
Rangers loanee wants Ibrox return
It leaves Rangers fans twiddling their thumbs a little over Abdallah Sima.
The former Slavia Prague forward had an impressive campaign at Ibrox interrupted by a serious injury.
In the first half of the season, Sima netted 15 goals before an injury sustained at AFCON essentially hamstrung the entire second half of the campaign.
Returning briefly and adding another goal in the 3-3 Old Firm draw at Ibrox, there’s a feeling of what might’ve been had the forward been fit for the whole campaign.
Speaking about his future only last month, the 22-year-old was also clear that he’d like to return to Rangers next season.
“It’s not up to me,” admits Sima. “I always say I feel at home here and I’m happy to be here.
“I’ve always loved to give everything for this shirt.
“As I say, this place feels like home and I feel everyone wants to stay in a place that feels like home, so we will see in the next few weeks.
“I think I can be proud of my season and happy with what I’ve contributed. I wanted to do more but of course I had a bad moment with my injury, which ruled me out for a long time. But I’m always looking forward and I’m not looking back.
“I really wanted to win the cup for the club, for my team-mates and I think we deserved to do that, to be honest. But it wasn’t enough and now we need to look forward to next season.”
