Rangers boss Russell Martin says £8m transfer fee won't affect Youssef Chermiti expectations

Rangers head coach Russell Martin doesn’t believe the transfer fee paid for new signing Youssef Chermiti will affect expectations around the striker within the club.

The 21-year-old forward joined the club from Everton on deadline day for an £8m fee, that could rise even higher with agreed add-ons.

Chermiti came through the ranks at Sporting Lisbon before moving to the English Premier League as a teenager but couldn’t make a first team breakthrough in Liverpool.

He’s now aiming to develop at Rangers and Martin feels he’s landed a player who can make a big impact.

“I think Youssef has tools that you’d really want in a number nine,” the head coach said. “We can play two number nines now.

“He has good athleticism, is a great kid, wants to learn. Brilliant record at youth level. He hasn’t really had the chance he probably wanted at first-team level yet, obviously in the toughest league in the world as well.

“I think we’ll judge him on here and now and what he does for us. We’re really excited to have him in because he’s a seriously talented player.

“Also, there was a lot of interest throughout Europe in top leagues for him. He was desperate to be here because we’ve worked with players that he knows and has a very good relationship with at Southampton. Obviously, he knows Kevin and Dan from before at Everton. He has the trust of those guys as well.

“That was really important for him. I’m really looking forward to getting to work with him properly.”

While some players have struggled with the tag that accompanies major expenditure, Martin says that won’t be the case inside Ibrox or at the training ground, though he accepts that can be the case for those looking at Chermiti from outside.

He said: “I don’t think the transfer fee… One, I’m not in charge of that which is a beautiful thing to come out and say to you guys.

“The other thing is, it doesn’t come into my thinking really.

“It’s a long-term investment for the football club, I think it’ll be a brilliant investment for the football club. I think he’ll do extremely well for us.

“There won’t be any expectation on him in here, I’m sure externally, maybe that changes.

“But in here the expectation is that he works as hard as he possibly can. He wants to learn, he wants to grow and he wants to help the team. I think he’ll do really well for us.”

Martin also shared his delight at the deadline day signing of Canadian defender Derek Cornelius joining the club.

“Derek has played in a style at Marseille in a club with big demand,” he said. “At Marseille, it’s not easy. I think that will be fine for him here. I think that was one thing we looked at straight away.

“I spoke to [Canada manager] Jesse Marsch at length about Derek and his character and personality. I think he’s someone we think can really help us.

“He’s flexible on the back four as well. We’ll be able to tweak shape a bit more than we have done now with the additions we’ve got. It’s exciting for us.”