Preliminary indications that Fashion Sakala’s second season at Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers will not be that straightforward manifested on July 30 in their opening Premiership fixture of the 2022/2022 season.
Sakala was an unused substitute in Saturday’s 2-1 away win over Livingston in a match coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst started two of his four pre-season attacking signings who are likely to relegate the Zambian striker down the pecking order.
The 25-year-old Zambian has recently been in the news with speculation linking him with a loan move to Spanish clubs Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad, including promoted French Ligue 1 club Auxerre.
Sakala, who joined Rangers on a free transfer exactly 12 months from Belgian side KV Oostende, has insisted in press reports that he wants to stay and fight for his place at Ibrox. But following Saturday’s development, Fashion admits it could be time to sit down for a chat with his coach.
“Obviously, I am very happy to be here. All this talk about loans? I don’t think I can go on loan. I am not looking at loan moves,” Fashion told the Daily Record.
“There is no need for me to go on loan because my first season was not bad. I scored 12 goals in all competitions, and that was my adaptation season. Now I have to prepare myself to do better this season.”
On Saturday, two of the three new boys, Antonio Colak and Thomas Lawrence, started while Malik Tillman came on in the 46th minute.
“If I hadn’t got the chance last season or if I had not scored a single goal, then I would have said: ‘Okay, I need to make a move, I need to go’. Because for me, I can be here at this big club, but if I am not playing, then it does not mean anything,” Fashion said.
“Last season was okay. It could have been better, but I was mostly on the bench, and coming all the time is difficult. I think players understand that to do so is not easy. When you do that, the game is on another level, and the rhythm is not the same.
“I haven’t had a meeting with him (van Bronckhorst). But I think they had a meeting with my manager, and he said he wants me, he wants me to be part of the club.
“I am expecting a meeting any time soon, and I hope to hear his views. This is something I am looking forward to because we are starting a competition, and I want to know where I am standing because I don’t know at the moment.”
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