Rangers have reportedly made their position on Youssef Chermiti clear after rejecting a major approach from Galatasaray for the striker.
The Turkish champions are understood to have made a verbal offer of €25 million for Chermiti, but Rangers have turned down the proposal and are believed to be demanding €40 million before they would even consider allowing their star forward to leave Ibrox.
That valuation would represent a remarkable development for Rangers.
If Galatasaray were prepared to meet the reported €40 million asking price, the transfer would become the biggest deal ever involving a Scottish club, surpassing the current Scottish transfer record.
It is another indication of how highly Rangers value the striker following his impressive first season in Scottish football.
Chermiti arrived at Ibrox from Everton for a reported £7.5 million in September 2025 and quickly established himself as one of the most dangerous attacking players in the Scottish Premiership.
His performances have now attracted attention from one of Turkey’s biggest clubs, but Rangers appear determined not to allow their prized asset to leave cheaply.
Rangers Reject €25m Galatasaray Approach
According to Turkish transfer expert Yağız Sabuncuoğlu, Galatasaray made a verbal proposal worth €25 million for Chermiti.
Rangers rejected the offer.
Rather than negotiating around the figure, the Scottish club are reportedly demanding €40 million for the striker.
That represents a significant increase on the amount Rangers paid Everton less than a year ago and demonstrates how quickly Chermiti’s value has risen.
The 20-goal involvement campaign he enjoyed last season has clearly convinced Rangers that they have a player capable of becoming one of the most valuable assets in Scottish football.
The striker scored 15 league goals and provided five assists in 30 Scottish Premiership appearances last season.
More impressively, he registered 20 goal involvements in 20 league starts.
Those numbers have made him one of the standout attacking players in the division and have naturally attracted interest from clubs with considerably greater financial resources.
Galatasaray appear to be among the clubs willing to test Rangers’ resolve.
For now, however, Rangers have made it clear that €25 million is nowhere near enough.
€40m Price Would Rewrite Scottish Transfer History
The most eye-catching part of the situation is Rangers’ reported €40 million valuation.
Should Galatasaray agree to pay that amount, Chermiti’s transfer would smash the Scottish transfer record.
The current record is held by Matt O’Riley’s move from Celtic to Brighton, which was worth approximately €29.5 million ahead of the 2024/25 season.
A €40 million deal would therefore represent a substantial new benchmark for Scottish football.
It would also demonstrate the potential financial rewards available to Rangers if they can develop and retain highly sought-after young players before eventually selling them to larger European clubs.
However, Rangers appear to have no immediate desire to cash in.
Chermiti is still under contract and remains an important part of manager Derek McInnes’ plans.
His age, goal-scoring ability and potential for further development mean Rangers can afford to take a strong negotiating position.
The club’s reported €40 million valuation could therefore be viewed as both a warning to Galatasaray and an indication that Rangers believe the player is worth considerably more than the initial offer.
McInnes Provides Update After Chermiti Injury
The transfer speculation comes at an unfortunate time for Chermiti.
The striker suffered an injury during Rangers’ 2-1 defeat against Hibernian on Sunday.
Chermiti was stretchered off during the match and was later seen leaving the stadium with his knee in a brace.
The incident has added another layer of uncertainty to his immediate future, particularly with Rangers preparing for an important Europa League qualifying match against Jagiellonia.
Chermiti was due to undergo a scan to determine the extent of the injury.
Rangers boss Derek McInnes also spoke about the player’s contribution during the defeat, praising his movement and energy.
The manager’s comments underlined just how important Chermiti has become to the team.
McInnes also addressed the transfer speculation and indicated that Rangers’ valuation had not yet been met.
That would appear to confirm that the club are not actively looking to sell their forward.
Instead, the message from Ibrox is clear: anyone wanting Chermiti will have to pay a huge fee.
A Rapid Rise at Ibrox
Chermiti’s development at Rangers has been impressive.
The forward joined the club from Everton for around £7.5 million in September 2025, a sizeable investment for a Scottish club.
But he quickly repaid the faith shown in him.
His first season produced 15 Scottish Premiership goals and five assists, making him one of the division’s most productive forwards.
His 20 goal involvements from 20 league starts were particularly impressive.
That record helped establish Chermiti as a player capable of making a significant impact at Rangers despite being relatively young.
His performances have also increased his profile outside Scotland.
Galatasaray’s interest demonstrates that clubs competing for major honours in other European leagues are now paying attention to him.
With the Turkish side attempting to strengthen their squad, Chermiti has emerged as one of their targets.
Galatasaray Have Plenty of Competition
Galatasaray are not the only Turkish club attempting to make major moves during what has been an increasingly ambitious summer transfer window in the Süper Lig.
The league has attracted several high-profile names and continues to strengthen its global profile.
Former Liverpool and Premier League star Mohamed Salah is among the biggest names to have been linked with a move to Turkey, with Trabzonspor reportedly offering a lucrative package.
Other major names have also been involved in transfer activity.
Fenerbahçe are reportedly pursuing Romelu Lukaku, while Trabzonspor have been linked with Darwin Núñez.
Former Premier League players such as Nathan Aké, Mason Greenwood and Leandro Trossard have also been connected with moves to Turkey.
Greenwood’s reported transfer to Fenerbahçe was worth around €40 million.
That figure is particularly interesting given Rangers’ reported valuation of Chermiti.
It demonstrates the kind of money Turkish clubs are currently willing to spend on established and emerging attacking talent.
Galatasaray, meanwhile, are looking to retain their position at the top of Turkish football after winning the Süper Lig title.
The club are reportedly targeting an unprecedented fifth consecutive league championship, making squad strengthening a major priority.
Rangers Have Little Reason to Sell
From Rangers’ perspective, the situation is straightforward.
Chermiti is young, productive and already an important player.
Selling him for €25 million would generate a significant profit on the £7.5 million initially paid to Everton, but it would also leave Rangers needing to replace one of their most important attacking players.
That could prove difficult with the new season already underway.
The club are also competing in Europe and will have domestic ambitions to consider.
Losing Chermiti at this stage could therefore create a major sporting problem.
The reported €40 million valuation gives Rangers a degree of protection.
If Galatasaray are unwilling to meet the figure, Rangers can simply retain their player and continue benefiting from his performances.
If the Turkish club eventually decides to pay the record fee, Rangers would receive an enormous financial boost.
Either way, the Scottish side are in a strong position.
The Injury Could Complicate Everything
The immediate concern, however, is Chermiti’s fitness.
The striker’s knee injury comes at a particularly important stage of the season.
Rangers have a Europa League qualifier approaching and are beginning a new domestic campaign in which they will expect to challenge for silverware.
A lengthy absence would obviously affect his availability on the pitch and could also influence the transfer situation.
Clubs considering a major investment will want to know the full extent of any injury before committing such a large sum.
For now, Rangers and the player will be waiting for the results of the scan.
The hope will be that the injury is not serious and that Chermiti can return to action quickly.
Galatasaray Face a Major Decision
The next move appears to belong to Galatasaray.
They have already tested Rangers with a €25 million verbal offer and received a clear response.
The Scottish club want €40 million.
Galatasaray must now decide whether to increase their offer significantly or walk away and consider alternative targets.
Given the scale of their ambitions and the financial strength of the Turkish champions, another approach cannot be ruled out.
However, Rangers have demonstrated that they are not under pressure to accept the first substantial proposal that arrives.
Their reported valuation could ultimately force Galatasaray to make a record-breaking decision.
Rangers Send a Clear Message
Whatever happens next, Rangers’ stance sends a powerful message about Chermiti’s importance.
The club have effectively placed a huge price tag on one of their most valuable young players after just one impressive season.
For a player who cost approximately £7.5 million less than a year ago, the reported €40 million valuation represents an extraordinary rise.
It also highlights the potential financial rewards that can come from successful recruitment.
Rangers now have a choice.
They can retain Chermiti and build their attack around a player who has already shown he can deliver goals, or they can consider an offer that would completely rewrite the Scottish transfer record.
At the moment, their actions suggest they would prefer the first option.
Galatasaray have already been told that €25 million is not enough.
If they genuinely want Chermiti, they may have to go much higher.
And with Rangers reportedly setting their asking price at €40 million, Scottish football could be on the verge of witnessing its biggest transfer ever.
