Derek McInnes Discusses Rangers' Injury Woes and Transfer Plans

Derek McInnes admits Rangers are “playing with fire” at the back and scrambling for a new centre-forward after Youssef Chermiti’s season was wrecked by a serious knee injury.

The 22-year-old striker suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in Saturday’s defeat by Hibernian, a brutal twist coming just days after the club had knocked back a sizeable bid for the Portugal Under-21 international. Galatasaray have been heavily linked with the former Everton forward.

Now, instead of leading the line in a pivotal early stretch of the season, Chermiti is heading for the treatment room and a likely operation in London next week.

“It’s really disappointing for ourselves,” McInnes said, reflecting both on the blow to his team and to a player he had earmarked as central to his plans. “Selfishly, he’s a big part of what we wanted to do this season and he’s obviously a talented boy.

“For Youssef himself, obviously he’s very young. It’ll be difficult for him to accept and understand what’s happened to him.”

The timing, though cruel, at least gives Rangers a sliver of room to manoeuvre.

“The only saving grace from our point of view as a club is the fact it’s happened in a transfer window and we’ve got the opportunity to react to that,” McInnes said. “We are obviously looking at maybe strengthening that area of the pitch. We’re trying to be quite proactive with that and seeing what is available. Number nines are normally the most difficult ones to get.”

The plan, before the injury, had been clear: Chermiti stays, leads the line, and any suitors are turned away unless a huge offer lands. One already has.

“The plan was for Youssef to stay in,” McInnes added. “Obviously it was a big number that was reportedly bid for him. I don’t know exactly what the figure was. Obviously the club rejected that. It’s neither here nor there now, to be honest. It’s done.”

Defensive alarm bells

Up front isn’t McInnes’ only headache.

Left-back Tuur Rommens, injured in the same match against Hibs, has been ruled out for up to eight weeks with a groin problem. That absence rips out the only natural left-back option and exposes a defensive unit the manager already felt was running thin.

“Strengthening defensively and in wide areas was the priority,” he said. “We don’t have a left-footed defender in the building. We’re keen to try and get that resolved as quickly as possible.

“With the numbers we’ve got there, we are kind of playing with fire. Defensively, it’s always been a bit of a concern. I always thought we were short of numbers there.

“We all know what we need but acting really swiftly would help matters.”

The clock is ticking. On the pitch, Rangers must overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit at home to Jagiellonia Bialystok in Thursday’s Europa League third-round qualifier. Off it, the recruitment team are racing to plug gaps before the window slams shut.

Targets on the radar

McInnes has been open about what he wants: a left-back, a striker, and wingers to stretch games and give his side a different gear.

“We’re trying to bring wingers in,” he said. “It’s in the hands of the recruitment team to try and get that over the line. Nothing’s been finalised with anything yet.”

Names are already circling. Brentford’s Jayden Meghoma, 20, has been linked with a return to Ibrox after last season’s loan spell. PSV Eindhoven winger Couhaib Driouech has also been strongly touted for a permanent move.

On Driouech, McInnes chose his words carefully but did not deny the interest.

“We’ve been linked with a lot of players,” he said. “That one’s gained a bit of momentum and we are quite far down the line with that but I don’t know where it’s at currently. All these things are still ongoing.”

Injuries have forced Rangers into the market. The question now is whether the club can move fast enough – and boldly enough – to turn a precarious situation into a platform for the season, rather than the start of a crisis.