Rangers reject £22m Galatasaray bid as Chermiti faces ACL lay‑off

Galatasaray made a club‑record £22 million bid for striker Youssef Chermiti, which Rangers rejected, and the 22‑year‑old now faces an extended spell after an ACL injury confirmed on Sunday. The Portuguese forward was stretchered off in a 2‑1 defeat to Hibernian at Ibrox, confirming the severity of the damage.

Why Rangers chased Chermiti

By CALUM CROWE, SCOTTISH DEPUTY CHIEF SPORTS WRITER. Published: 23:58, 11 August 2026 | Updated: 00:09, 12 August 2026. Manager Derek McInnes had planned Chermiti to be a key part of the attack alongside newly appointed captain Lawrence Shankland. The striker was seen as a vital addition to boost the club’s offensive options for the new campaign.

The injury forces Rangers to rethink their transfer strategy as they remain targeting up to five new signings before the window closes. The club’s recruitment plans now have to accommodate the loss of a player they intended to build the front line around.

Consequences for both clubs

In another early‑season setback, left‑back Tuur Rommens is set for a spell on the sidelines due to a groin issue. The Rommens injury could pave the way for Jayden Meghoma to return on loan from Brentford, offering a short‑term solution at full‑back.

The club issued a statement: “Following assessment, striker Youssef Chermiti suffered an ACL injury in Sunday’s match with Hibernian. Youssef will be out of action for a significant period of time. Everyone at Rangers is with him as he begins his recovery.”

Chairman Andrew Cavenagh addressed the Galatasaray bid at a shareholders’ meeting, saying, “We won’t ever speak about individual deals and individual players but we will give you the concepts… If both of those things don’t exist, we won’t do a deal. We are not under pressure to sell.” He added that selling without reinvestment would be “useless” and that the sporting side comes first.

Rangers are still monitoring several targets: Club Brugge right‑back Hugo Siquet, Aston Villa’s Kosta Nedeljkovic, and James Penrice of AEK Athens remain on the radar. PSV winger Couhaib Driouech is poised to complete a £7 million switch to Ibrox, highlighting the club’s continued ambition despite the setbacks.

Ahead of tomorrow night’s Europa League qualifier against Jagiellonia Bialystok, the news of Chermiti’s injury has rocked the Ibrox side, adding uncertainty to the squad selection for the crucial match.