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<\/p>\nThe Ibrox sporting director was the man who pushed the button when Everton splashed out \u00a312million to sign when he was at the helm<\/p>\n
12:07, 03 Sep 2025Updated 13:35, 03 Sep 2025<\/p>\n
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Michael Ball has warned Kevin Thelwell<\/a> he has put his Rangers reputation on the line with the megabucks signing of Youseff Chermiti.<\/p>\n The Ibrox sporting director was the man who pushed the button when Everton splashed out \u00a312million to sign the Portuguese Under-21 cap<\/a> from Sporting Lisbon in 2023.<\/p>\n And he\u2019s just sanctioned another \u00a38million splurge after giving the green light for Gers\u2019 deadline-day swoop for the Toffees striker.<\/p>\n The huge fee – which could hit eight figures with add ons – is the biggest sum the Light Blues have spent on a single player in a quarter of a century.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s left puzzled fans wondering if recruiting a largely untested frontman with just three first-team goals to his name was the best way to spend the cash.<\/p>\n Now Ball – a former Everton and Rangers<\/a> favourite – has warned Thelwell the move better work out for Russell Martin’s<\/a> team or he could find his already-shaky standing with the Ibrox support taking a fatal hit.<\/p>\n The ex-England international told Record Sport: \u201cI think Kev feels that he’s got a point to prove that he was right with Chermiti.<\/p>\n \u201cHe feels that this is the type of player that the club needs – but yeah, he’s put his reputation on the line with this one.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom a fan’s point of view, it’s a big financial risk to spend so much money on one player.<\/p>\n \u201cSo it\u2019s down to the player to prove that point.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it all comes good, it’s all nice and rosy for Kevin Thelwell.<\/p>\n \u201cBut if it turns sour, there’s going to be a lot of fingers pointed in Kev\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n \u201cBut every decision in recruitment is like that. Signing players is one of the hardest things in football to get right.<\/p>\n \u201cNot many teams do.<\/p>\n \u201cKevin has stuck his neck out and put his trust in Chermiti.<\/p>\n \u201cBut he knows the player\u2019s character, he knows what Scottish football is all about, so if he feels that Chermiti is ticking all the boxes and is exactly what Glasgow Rangers needs, good luck to him.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_JS371506316.jpg\")
Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell<\/p>\n