One area where Rangers need to improve is ensuring that when they spend significant money, it’s on a player who can immediately enhance Philippe Clement’s starting lineup. With limited funds available, any large investment must deliver a strong return, with high-value players forming the core of the team.
Nedim Bajrami has yet to show anything close to the level expected of an international player who has spent recent years in Serie A. Rangers should be concerned about his performance.
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Bajrami was signed for £3.4m with the expectation that he would solve the No.10 role and replace Todd Cantwell, especially since Ianis Hagi’s contract situation was still unresolved. However, six months into his time at Rangers, the 25-year-old seems completely out of sorts.
Against Queen’s Park, a match where he should have been taking charge, Bajrami was invisible for 45 minutes. He made no key passes, created no chances, and didn’t take a single shot on goal. This lack of impact isn’t an isolated case—he’s started three games, failed to make any difference, and been substituted at halftime each time.
In his central role, Bajrami has scored just once, during the Premier Sports Cup final against Celtic from a rebound. Over 20 league appearances, he’s created only four big chances in total. In contrast, Ianis Hagi, who has played fewer games, has been named to Sofascore’s team of the week six times, while Bajrami has never made the cut.
It raises the question: what did Clement see in Bajrami? The manager had been monitoring him for a long time and believed he possessed the creativity and dynamism needed to elevate Rangers: “I am pleased to welcome Nedim to the club. He is someone we have kept a close eye on for a period of time and we are glad to add him to our squad,” Clement said upon his signing.
However, Bajrami’s performances so far have been far from what was anticipated. While players can take time to adjust to new leagues and systems, Bajrami seems a world away from the experienced playmaker that Rangers hoped they were signing.
The much-discussed player trading model will never provide a solid financial foundation for Rangers if so much money continues to be spent on players who fail to deliver value.
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