How "the future of Scottish football" can end Gassama's Rangers career
Since beginning his career in 2015, he has developed extensive expertise in data-led analysis and original football features. Daniel began his career at Fresh Press before writing and editing for publications including Read Norwich, Read Celtic and Anfield Watch.
Throughout his career, he has interviewed football figures including Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg, former striker Adebayo Akinfenwa and journalist Fabrizio Romano. Since joining Football FanCast, Daniel has contributed as both a writer and editor.
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Glasgow Rangers could be at least seven points adrift of first place in the Scottish Premiership heading into the November international break after this weekend. Their failure to beat Hearts at Tynecastle on Wednesday night means that Celtic can extend their four-point lead if they win at the weekend, whilst the Light Blues play Aberdeen in the semi-finals of the League Cup, before they both play the following weekend.
Several players did not step up to the mark against the Jam Tarts on Wednesday, and one of those players was left-sided winger Djeidi Gassama. Why Rangers must drop Djeidi Gassama McInnes must drop the Mauritania international from the starting line-up against Aberdeen on Saturday because of how poor his performance against Hearts was.
The former Sheffield Wednesday man was brought into the side so that Badredine Bouanani could have a rest during a three-game week, but the decision to go with him instead of Findlay Curtis turned out to be a mistake. In 54 minutes on the pitch at Tynecastle, Gassama lost the ball 12 times from 19 touches of the ball and five of those losses of possession came through an unsuccessful touch.
His dire use of the ball meant that he came off the field without any shots or key passes for the Scottish giants, and McInnes must instantly take him out of the line-up after such a wasteful and ineffective display in possession. Why Rangers need to move on from Gassama On top of dropping him from the team for the clash with Aberdeen, Rangers should also be thinking about moving on from him on a permanent basis when the January transfer window opens.
Since joining from Sheffield Wednesday for £2.2m in the summer of 2025, the 23-year-old has not developed or improved as a player at the top end of the pitch. Gassama (Premiership) 25/26 26/27 Appearances 38 11 xG 5.11 2.38 Goals 3 0 Big chances created 7 3 Assists 5 3 Possession lost per game 10.2 10.3 Just like his first season in the Premiership, Gassama is still sometimes creative and lacks a regular threat as a goalscorer for the Scottish giants, scoring one goal in 18 games for club and country this season.
How Rangers academy star can end Gassama's Ibrox career McInnes may not have to push the club to go out and sign a new player in order to sanction an exit for Gassama, though, as the player who can end his Ibrox career may already be on the books. In the summer, the Light Blues decided to send impressive academy starlet Kyle Glasgow out on loan to Alloa Athletic in the third tier of Scottish football.