AliousRangers Eye Shock Move for ‘Legendary’ Goal Machine as Igamane Exit Nears – Could He Be the Ultimate Upgrade on Tavernier?
With a new season fast approaching, excitement is mounting at Ibrox as Russell Martin prepares for his managerial debut with Rangers in a high-profile pre-season clash against Belgian giants Union Saint-Gilloise. A fresh era is underway, with several new signings already through the door, including Lyall Cameron, Max Aarons, Joe Rothwell, and Emmanuel Fernandez. But speculation is growing that the most high-profile arrival may still be on the horizon.
Major Changes Up Front
Rangers look set for a serious shake-up in attack. All three of the club’s top scorers from last season—those with over six goals—are likely to leave. Václav Černý has returned to Wolfsburg after his loan spell ended, while Cyriel Dessers is reportedly on the verge of a permanent switch to AEK Athens, with Rangers demanding a £5 million fee.
However, the most lucrative and headline-grabbing exit could come in the form of Hamza Igamane. The prolific Moroccan striker is attracting major interest, most notably from French side Lille, with reports suggesting a deal worth up to £20 million is being explored. If completed, it would shatter Rangers’ all-time record for a player sale.
Although Lille have currently paused their pursuit, Igamane’s departure this summer remains highly probable—setting the stage for a significant attacking addition.
Enter Jamie Vardy?
As Rangers line up potential replacements, veteran forward Jamie Vardy has emerged as a serious contender. According to reports from *The Daily Record* and *The Telegraph*, the Scottish club remain keen on the former Leicester City striker, who has made it clear that he wants regular starting opportunities—something Rangers could readily offer, especially with a high-stakes Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos just weeks away.
Despite being 38 years old, Vardy continues to prove his worth. He netted 10 goals in a struggling Leicester side last season and remarkably reached the 200-goal milestone in his 500th appearance for the club, taking his career total to 237—nearly 100 more than Rangers captain James Tavernier.
Igamane vs. Vardy – The Numbers
While Vardy may be entering the twilight of his career, his numbers remain elite. Igamane, 16 years his junior, did outscore the Englishman last season and posted superior stats in terms of shots, shots on target, and touches per game. However, context matters. Igamane played for a dominant side in one of Europe’s lower-ranked leagues (43rd, according to Global Football Rankings), while Vardy was fighting for scraps in the world’s toughest domestic competition.
Even in the EFL Championship two seasons ago—a league ranked 11th globally—Vardy bagged 20 goals in all competitions. With Rangers expected to dominate domestically, there’s every reason to believe he could replicate or surpass that tally in the Scottish Premiership.
Final Thoughts
As Russell Martin begins shaping his squad, Jamie Vardy could provide both a lethal short-term solution and a dose of winning mentality. While the potential departure of Igamane would be a major loss, replacing him with a player who’s been called a “living legend” by Ruud van Nistelrooy and hailed as Leicester’s greatest-ever by *The Athletic*’s Rob Tanner could prove an inspired move.
If the deal happens, Rangers fans might soon witness a deadly combination of experience and goal-scoring class capable of lighting up Ibrox and spearheading their European ambitions.
Alious
