Rangers supporters were given little indication that the striker would go on to attract interest from La Liga
Mention the name Umar Sadiq to your average Rangers fan and it’s unlikely you’ll receive a positive response.
Brought to the club on a season-long loan by Steven Gerrard in July 2018, the deal was terminated before the end of the year.
The forward had made just four appearances, failing not only to score but to give any indication that he was capable of providing a threat.
His nadir was reached in the Betfred Cup semi-final, when he was thrust into the starting XI against Aberdeen in the absence of Alfredo Morelos and Kyle Lafferty.
Clean through on goal, he began to go round Dons keeper Joe Lewis. The simplest option would have been to slot the ball home, but instead the Nigerian threw himself to the ground and was booked for diving.
After returning to Roma, he endured another unsuccessful loan spell at Perugia before beginning to turn his fortunes round at Serbian club FK Partizan.
A record of 23 goals in 52 games saw him earn a permanent move to UD Almeria, and he’s blossomed in the Spanish second tier.
His goal against Leganes on Wednesday took him to 14 in 25 appearances this season, a record that has, according to Own Goal Nigeria, attracted interest from La Liga.
They report that there has been interest in the player from La Liga, and cite Marca’s claim that he was valued at £52m in the January transfer window, an asking price that they say will rise to £69m if Almeria achieve promotion from the Segunda Division.
They currently sit in third place, two points behind second-placed Mallorca and three behind leaders Espanol.
The 24-year-old scored a hat-trick last month in his side’s 3-1 win over Ponferradina.
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