Ex-Rangers fan favourite Abdallah Sima allowed to LEAVE Brighton after Brest stint – but there's a catch
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
ABDALLAH SIMA enjoyed a successful loan stint at Rangers last year, with fans desperate to sign him permanently.
The club revealed they did make an effort to buy him in the summer, and now he might be on the move again - but with a catch.
Sign up for the Rangers newsletter
Sign up
3
Former Rangers loan star Abdallah Sima could be on the move in the summer
Credit: Getty
3
Sima has spent this season on loan with Brest in Ligue 1
Credit: Getty
3
The Senegalese winger was a fan favourite at Ibrox
Credit: Willie Vass
Sima was loaned out again by parent club Brighton after returning from Rangers, joining Brest in the French Ligue 1.
The Senegal star has had a decent season, scoring 12 goals despite the team falling out of the Champions League places they secured last season.
But it seems the Premier League side don't plan to use him when he comes back again in the summer.
That's because transfer guru David Ornstein says the Seagulls intend to use Sima in a partial swap deal for a teenage superstar from the continent.
Ornstein posted on X, formerly Twitter: "Brighton are pursuing a deal to sign Olympiacos striker Charalampos Kostoulas.
"The 17-year-old Greece youth international is viewed among Europe's best talents and Brighton have proposed around £30million plus Abdallah Sima.
"But it's expected to be rejected by Olympiacos."
It's unclear whether Gers or any other team would have a chance of snapping him up if the swap deal doesn't work out.
Nils Koppen, recruitment chief at Ibrox, explained late last year that despite public perception, an effort was made to keep Sima.
Koppen said: "The impression was that we weren't going to go back for Sima, but that's not the case.
Kris Boyd explains why Celtic striker Adam Idah and Rangers' Cyriel Dessers are similar players
'We made an effort to bring Sima back to Glasgow permanently with a good offer, a higher fee than the one we agreed for Oscar Cortes.
"We tried to convince the player and the agent but the numbers were unrealistic so we pushed back on it."
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
40 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Self-proclaimed ‘weirdo' Russell Martin in focus including Rangers boss' famous girlfriend & unique outlook on life
NEW Rangers manager Russell Martin has admitted he's a 'weirdo' in the footie world. As a vegan Buddhist and fully paid up member of the Green Party, it's fair to say that the former Scotland international isn't your typical grunting gaffer. 8 Russell Martin has been presented as the new Rangers manager Credit: Willie Vass 8 Martin and Lucy Pinder went public with their relationship last year Credit: Instagram / @pinderpix 8 Lucy earned legions of fans during her time as a glamour model Credit: PA:Press Association The 39-year-old also dates former lads mag pin-up Lucy Pinder, 41, swims in the sea and uses a cryotherapy chamber near his home. But despite being labelled the sport's most 'woke' boss, the retired defender actually endured a brutal upbringing. The second youngest of four brothers, Martin grew up in the Hollingbury area of Brighton and watched as his late Scots dad Dean was violent towards mum Kerry and had stints in prison. His family home was lost to his gambling debts — and he moved them next door to a bookies. In a recent podcast interview with footy legend Gary Lineker, Martin said: 'There was too much violence and it became a bit normal. From my dad to my mum. I witnessed a lot of it. A lot of my childhood was spent trying to placate the adults in my life. 'The problem with my dad was he had the capability to be amazing and really likeable but the gap between him at his best and worst was too big. 'And he was a big gambler so the day depended on how he did at the bookies and he worked nights on the taxis so you couldn't make a sound in the morning so it was eggshells a lot of the time and I spent a lot of time kicking the ball against the bookies' wall. 'My dad was great in some ways but I'd never do with my kids what he did with me.' Martin was forced to leave his troubled dad behind and look after his mum when they moved out to escape the violence at home. Despite the early trauma, he excelled at school where he was made head boy. And even after a string of top clubs rejected the budding footballer, he joined non-league side Lewes and cleaned windows and pub toilets in the mornings with his uncle and did shifts at a Spar supermarket across the road in the evenings to make some spare cash. Premier League boss Russell Martin has found love with former glamour model Lucy Pinder He got his break under Arsenal legend Tony Adams, 58, at Wycombe before moving on to Peterborough and Norwich — whose manager at the time, Celtic hero Paul Lambert, 55, has been a huge influence on his career. During this time the Scots stopper married bodybuilder Jasmine Martin and the pair had three children before splitting in 2023. Martin, who also enjoyed brief stints with Walsall, MK Dons and even Rangers in 2018, gave up meat and turned vegan for health reasons after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. He was part-owner of a vegan restaurant and later practiced meditation and breath work as he embraced Buddhism after finding religion through a book called 'The Buddha, Geoff and Me' by Edward Canfor-Dumas. Meanwhile, he revealed he'd joined the Green Party in 2018 after growing disillusioned with politics. But it probably wasn't a surprise to his then Norwich teammates - as Martin often implored them to turn the taps off and think about climate change. He also drives electric cars, is obsessive about recycling and started his own foundation which has grown from a football academy to a charity that helps kids struggling in mainstream school. The philanthropist once said: 'I'm probably deemed a bit of a weirdo in terms of football. But, to be honest, I'm past the point of worrying what others think. 'It's not like: 'Is it going to harm my employment opportunities because of where I vote and what I stand for?' If it did, I wouldn't want to work for those people anyway.' Martin was preparing for his coaching career during his playing days — studying for his coaching badges at age 22, and going for his Uefa Pro Licence at the Scottish FA in 2019. He enjoyed successful spells in charge of MK Dons and Swansea City before his honeymoon period at Southampton — they were promoted to the English Premier League — came crashing down when they were relegated and he was sacked. The heartbreaking end to his top flight stint wasn't a surprise after a 5-0 loss - but it could have been handled better. Martin said: 'I went in thinking that time was done. I needed to go to the toilet and compose myself before doing the team talk. So I went in and said to the lads at half-time, 0-5 down: 'I'm getting sacked tonight.' 'It was like an out of body experience watching the second half, I felt so detached from it because I knew what was coming. 'After the game, I spoke to the guys again and said: 'Thanks for everything, I'm not sure what's gonna happen now'. 8 'I went into the press conference and asked the head of media 'what's happening?' He says, 'We've done the statement' so it was a really quick press conference. He told me to go upstairs. I wanted to wait until the morning but we did it [the sacking] with the owners straight after the game.' But he hasn't allowed his dismissal last year to bring him down as he's found love with Southampton-daft glamour model Lucy. They were seen out together when the football coach was given an honorary degree by Brighton University and later turned heads at a Sky Sports social function. Pin-up Lucy, shot to fame as a glamour model in the early 2000s after she was spotted on Bournemouth beach by a photographer. She went on to become a regular in lads' mags Nuts, FHM and Loaded and has been in several movies — debuting in 2012 in Strippers vs Werewolves — and appeared on Celebrity Big Brother. The model knows a thing or two about celebrity romances, having reportedly dated Captain America star Chris Evans, 43, in the past. But seeing her fella succeed at Ibrox could mean she's found her second superhero. 8 Lucy and Martin were spotted at an event last year Credit: PA:Press Association 8 Martin led Southampton to promotion Credit: Getty 8 He played 29 times for Scotland Credit: Getty 8 Martin's philosophy earned the respect of the Southampton players Credit: Getty Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Lois Boisson's dream French Open run ended in semi-final by Coco Gauff
France's Boisson, the world number 361, sent shockwaves around Roland Garros by becoming the first wildcard to reach the semi-finals. The 22-year-old from Dijon proved she could cut the mustard having knocked out third seed Jessica Pegula and sixth-ranked Mirra Andreeva. But world number two Gauff managed to dilute the Paris crowd with a composed 6-1 6-2 victory to set up a final showdown with top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka. 'Lois is an incredible player and for her to have the tournament she's had, she's shown she's one of the best players in the world,' said the American. Coco Gauff ends Lois Boisson fairy tale and goes back to a Roland-Garros final 💪#RolandGarros — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2025 'I hope we have many more battles in the future, especially here, Today it was just my day. 'I knew 99 per cent of the crowd would be for her. When they were chanting her name in my head I just chanted mine, to psyche myself up.' It was a grand slam semi-final of enormous contrasts, Boisson's career earnings before this tournament totalled just over £100,000 while Gauff – a year younger – has amassed nearly £18million. However, Boisson will at least be £580,000 better off after her fortnight's work in the French capital. She can also console herself with a climb in the rankings of 296 places to 65 – she has gone from French number 24 to number one – and a likely wildcard for Wimbledon. Gauff, the French Open runner-up in 2022, opened up a 4-0 lead before most of the Court Philippe-Chatrier patrons had retaken their seats – presumably they had been for a boisson or two – following Sabalenka's three-set win over Iga Swiatek. The heavy topspin forehands which previously accounted for five players were not firing, and even when she got a break back at the start of the second set, Gauff quickly snuffed out the mini French revolution. Victory was sealed in an hour and nine minutes to break French hearts while Gauff will get a second chance at glory in Paris on Saturday.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Former Man Utd and Chelsea star Nemanja Matic slapped with football ban after taping over LGBTQ+ logo
A second player has been banned, while a third avoided punishment ACE BANNED Former Man Utd and Chelsea star Nemanja Matic slapped with football ban after taping over LGBTQ+ logo NEMANJA MATIC has received a ban after he covered an LGBTQ+ campaign logo on his kit with tape. The former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder, who now plays for Ligue 1 club Lyon, covered up the logo on his sleeve for the final game of the season. 4 Nemanja Matic has been banned for two games for covering an LGBTQ+ campaign logo on his sleeve with tape Credit: AFP 4 The Ligue 1 rainbow logo was part of an anti-homophobia campaign Credit: Getty Matic, 36, used tape to cover a rainbow coloured Ligue 1 logo on his Lyon shirt for their final day victory over Angers. The logo was part of Ligue 1's annual campaign against homophobia which sees every club shirt adorned with the rainbow design. Matic wasn't the only player to cover the logo, with Le Havre forward Ahmed Hassan also covering the sleeve design with tape. According to Belgian news outlet HLN, both Matic and Hassan have been handed two-match bans by the French Football Federation as a result of their actions. The pair will also reportedly have to undergo an awareness campaign about homophobia in football. Matic is believed to be a member of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Hassan is Muslim. A third player, Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed, has escaped punishment after refusing to play with the logo. Mohamed, who is also a practicing Muslim, chose not to play in the final match of the season rather than covering the logo up. 4 Le Havre forward Ahmed Hassan (right) also covered up the logo Credit: Getty 4 Mostafa Mohamed chose not to play with the logo on his sleeve Credit: AFP Mohamed cited his 'values' for not playing in Nantes 3-0 win over Montpellier. He wrote on social media: "Living together also means recognising that this diversity can be expressed differently from one person to another. Nemanja Matic brands Andre Onana 'one of worst keepers in Man Utd HISTORY' in savage response to goalie "I believe in mutual respect - the respect we owe others, but also the respect we owe ourselves and our beliefs. "As for me, there are deep-rooted values tied to my heritage and my faith, which make participating in this initiative difficult." The actions of the Matic, Hassan and Mohamed prompted France's sports minister Marie Basacq to issue a statement after the final day of the Ligue 1 campaign. Barsacq said: "Football has a massive platform, and the [French Football] Federation is determined to put this issue on the clubs' and supporters' agenda. 'Homophobic insults and behaviour are no longer acceptable. "Society has evolved, and the language in football must change with it. There's a full range of sanctions available, and they must be applied.' Although rare, some players have spoken out in support of the LGBTQ+ community in the past. Speaking six years ago, Atletico Madrid and French international Antoine Griezmann said: "If a gay player wants to come out, he might not have all the France players with him, but he will have me.'
