'Really wanted him' - Journalist shares why crucial £3m+ Rangers transfer exit collapsed

Sam Lammers’ salary is the reason why Rangers are struggling to sell the Dutch forward this summer, according to Leon ten Voorde.

The journalist told the AD Voetbal podcast on 15 July that his asking price of up to €4million [£3.36m] was affordable amid strong interest from the Eredivisie but an FC Utrecht move fell through as the 27-year-old would have had to take a pay cut of more than 50 per cent.

After struggling in Glasgow Lammers spent the second half of last season on loan at the club and rebounded with 11 goals, but despite the club pursuing a deal to keep him [Rangers Review, 20 May] they have since signed Noah Ohio.

Ten Voorde said, via Football Scotland: “FC Utrecht really wanted him and it’s not about the transfer fee. I believe he costs €3m or €4m.

“That should be affordable for clubs if you’ve done a good job on the transfer market yourself. But in terms of salary, you definitely won’t get there. Then Lammers will have to give up much more than half of his salary.”

Rangers forward faced Leeds United as part of the B Team

Some of Michael Beale’s signings last summer have proven to be more beneficial than the former manager was making them look but the Lammers deal continues to look misguided.

Dujon Sterling may have emerged from obscurity under the Englishman to become a star at Ibrox and Cyriel Dessers rebounded under Philippe Clement to finish with 22 goals last term.

The latter could be sold anyway [Rangers Review, 3 July] as the Belgian and Nils Koppen look to finance the rest of their transfer window with targets rapidly being snapped up by rival suitors.

But the inability to shift Lammers is arguably proving to be the greatest frustration after his hugely-positive loan move generated a market for him [Rangers Review, 29 May].

His form back in the Netherlands was impressive but it certainly appears the club offered him too much if it is so far beyond what those in the Dutch top flight can afford.

Having arrived from Sampdoria a year ago with a grand total of nine goals to his name over the previous four years for five different clubs he surely didn’t merit a bumper deal, then continued to struggle in front of goal and netted only twice for Rangers.

The fault may lie with Lammers for his Light Blues performances but the fault lies with the club for giving a player who has now been dumped in the B Team a deal they can’t get out from under as he is under no obligation to give it up.

In other Rangers news, a senior defensive target is set to move on a three-year deal after Light Blues transfer talks were held.

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