Ally McCoist calls Youssef Chermiti injury a Rangers disaster
Rangers striker Youssef Chermiti suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage and was stretchered off during the club's first home game of the season against Hibernian—a setback that adds to a grim daily record at Ibrox this summer. Ally McCoist called the blow an "absolute disaster" for the player and club after Rangers rejected a reported £22 million Galatasaray bid. The Portuguese forward has since undergone surgery in London and posted a recovery update on Instagram.
Key Takeaways
- Chermiti tore his ACL against Hibs and faces a lengthy recovery after surgery in London.
- Rangers turned down a £22 million Galatasaray offer that would have been a club-record sale fee.
- Ally McCoist told talkSPORT Bet the injury is an "absolute disaster" for Chermiti and Rangers.
- Derek McInnes says the club is actively seeking a No.9, with MLS striker Kevin Kelsy among options.
- The timing inside the transfer window gives Rangers a chance to react without Chermiti.
What happened to Youssef Chermiti?
Chermiti was carried off on a stretcher during Rangers' opening home fixture of the season against Hibernian. Medical assessments confirmed anterior cruciate ligament damage, a serious knee injury that typically rules players out for months.
The 22-year-old traveled to London to see a specialist and has already undergone ACL surgery. He shared a smiling hospital photo on Instagram, marking the start of what manager Derek McInnes called a difficult road ahead for a young player coming to terms with the blow.
Why did Ally McCoist call it a disaster?
Former Rangers manager and club legend Ally McCoist did not mince words when speaking to talkSPORT Bet. "Youssef Chermiti's injury is a disaster. An absolute disaster," he said, adding that rumours suggested Rangers had been offered £23 million or £24 million for the striker.
McCoist said he was "gutted" for Chermiti personally but insisted there was "no other word for it than a disaster" from the club's perspective. Rangers have endured a poor start at Ibrox, and losing a planned focal point in attack deepens an already challenging season.
How does the Galatasaray bid change Rangers' situation?
According to The Rangers Review, Galatasaray offered £22 million for Chermiti this summer. Had Rangers accepted, it would have been a club-record fee received, surpassing the Calvin Bassey deal to Ajax. The bid was rejected immediately, and other suitors were told the same.
McInnes confirmed the club's plan had been for Chermiti to stay and lead the line. Hours after rejecting the Turkish club's approach, the injury transformed him from Rangers' most valuable asset into a player unable to contribute for the foreseeable future—without the cash injection a sale would have provided.
Who could replace Chermiti at Ibrox?
McInnes acknowledged that strengthening at centre-forward is now a priority alongside earlier work on defence and wide areas. The Rangers Review understands initial contact has been made with MLS side Portland Timbers over Venezuelan striker Kevin Kelsy, a 22-year-old described as tall, quick and athletic.
Loan moves are also under discussion as recruitment staff balance needs with budget. Sheffield United's Ryan One is not a target, no attempt was made to hijack Joel Gelhardt's move from Leeds to Hull, and former Ibrox youngster Rory Wilson is not being considered. Wide additions and left-back targets including James Penrice and Jayden Meghoma remain on the agenda.
McInnes called the transfer window timing "the one saving grace," giving Rangers room to react—a storyline fitting broader Celebrity Breaking News coverage of high-profile Scottish football setbacks.
What did Derek McInnes say about the injury?
"Really disappointing for ourselves; he is a big part of what we wanted to do," McInnes told reporters. He added that Chermiti's youth makes the setback harder to accept but stressed the club would be proactive in the market: "We are obviously looking at maybe strengthening that area of the pitch."
For supporters tracking Rangers through outlets such as The Herald, Chermiti's Instagram update offered a small positive amid a summer that McCoist summed up in one word: disaster.