Give Chermiti Time

To be fair, we all hoped Chermiti would hit the ground running when Rangers paid that reported £8million. Truth is, he came to us with very little first‑team football at Everton after his move from Sporting Lisbon, so patience has always been the sensible approach. I’ve given every new signing a season before proper judgement and I’m sticking to that here.

What we’re actually seeing

We’re starting to get glimpses of the player he can become rather than a finished product. He looks comfortable holding the ball, has striker attributes you’d expect — movement, desire to get in the box and the odd flash of technique — but it’s early days. You can see why people are encouraged. You can also see why a regular run and the right partner up front would help him click into gear.

Why a striking partner matters

Centre-forwards rarely grow in isolation. A partner who drags defenders, links play and reads his runs is the sort of thing that lets a young striker turn chances into regular goals. Close proximity strikes balance in the forward line, creates quicker combinations and gives the youngster the freedom to learn the timing of top‑level service. That’s not tactical theory — it’s common sense in football.

The summer questions

Will clubs come knocking? I wouldn’t be surprised. If he keeps showing potential, interest will follow and the fee that Rangers could command will depend on demand. As the original poster said, some will fancy us getting a big return — they mentioned not selling for less than £20million — and that’s a fair fan view. For now I’d rather we keep him, give him minutes and let him develop into the kind of striker who earns those offers.

To sum up: patience, game time and the right striking partner are the things that will turn promise into consistency. I’m optimistic — still. Believe in the process, not instant perfection.

Written by Sir Walter Smith OBE: 15 March 2026