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Rangers took their time to see off Aberdeen in a Premier Sports Cup semi-final tie at Hampden Park despite the best efforts of Badredine Bouanani.
The 21-year-old winger might only have one goal and one assist from his three league starts; however, this doesn’t paint the full picture of his impact since signing on loan from VfB Stuttgart.
The once exorbitant transfer fee needed to turn this loan into a permanent deal no longer looks quite as ridiculous. Rangers will be able to afford this, and if he continues his current levels of form, it is a deal that Derek McInnes will be urging the board to sign off on.
How Much is Rangers Clause to Sign Badredine Bouanani?
One accusation that can’t be levelled at the current Rangers board and ownership group is that they haven’t put their hands into their pockets.
More than £40 million was spent in the summer, investing in young players like Kevin Kelsy, Olwethu Makhanya, Vanja Dragojevic, and Kim Minsu, a point that McInnes was quick to emphasise in his post-match interview on Premier Sports after the win over Aberdeen: “It is a great feeling.
“Semi-finals are never straightforward, and historically, even highly talented Rangers sides have found them difficult hurdles.
“When you fail to score early, and the play is ponderous in the first half, lacking bite and failing to move the ball quickly across the turf, it becomes challenging.
“Producing 25 shots with only five hitting the target reflects inexperience in the forward areas; the team needed an extra pass and better composure in the final third.”
Bouanani was a key component of the attack and tormented the Aberdeen defence either by driving to the goal line or by cutting inside and shooting or crossing. Every time the Algerian international was in possession, it felt like something was going to happen. On another day, he walks away with the matchball and an assist or two.
At £15.5 million, he would be expensive, but after a summer rebuild and a core of young players from back to front, Rangers won’t need to splash out on quantity, only quality, which puts a permanent deal well within range.
Read More: ‘Atrocious’ – Rangers Star Roasted as Calls Grow for Derek McInnes to Drop Him
Badredine Bouanani Lights Up Hampden
Bouanani was awarded the Rangers TV man of the match award by Ibrox legend John Brown for a scintillating performance. What sets him apart from other Light Blues wide men is that he rarely, if ever, makes the wrong decision.
Andy Halliday, speaking on BBC Sportsound, couldn’t sing the winger’s praises highly enough and his role in driving Rangers to a cup final: “I thought Bouanani just lit the game up.
“In a game that lacked quality and composure, I thought he looked so dangerous.
“He was the catalyst that sparked that excellent Rangers spell.”
The Last Word
£15 million would break the transfer record that Rangers paid for Tore Andre Flo, a £12 million sum that many thought would never be beaten given the current finances available in Scottish football.
Elements of the support will demand more goals and assists for that sort of money, but as seen with Ryan Naderi, patience is a virtue.
Rather than an individual fee, the Gers should look at the total spend to build the squad, and there won’t be an excessive outlay next summer. Should Bouanani maintain his current levels, or even better, improve them, he could break records for both outgoing and incoming fees.
More on Football
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- Derek McInnes Issues Warning to Rangers Outcast Who Hasn’t Played Recently
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