Glasgow Rangers were dealt a setback in the Scottish Premiership title race when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Dundee away from home on Saturday night.
Their failure to pick up all three points at Dens Park was made worse by their Glasgow rivals winning 7-1 against Hearts on Sunday, which created a four-point gap at the top of the table.
Derek McInnes‘ side had been on an impressive run of form, winning seven successive matches, before their draw with Dundee, and the Scottish boss will be backing his side to bounce back strongly.
One shining light on a dim evening in Dundee was the performance of winger Badredine Bouanani, who looks primed to have a starring role at Ibrox this season.
Why Bouanani is a superstar in the making for Rangers
The Light Blues signed the Algerian forward on loan from Stuttgart with an option to make it permanent for a club-record fee of £15.5m, and he has had a slow start to life at Ibrox.
Bouanani has had to bide his time and wait for opportunities to impress, after joining late on in the window when the season had already started, but he has taken his chances when they have come.
The 21-year-old talent started against Dundee on Saturday and produced an outstanding display on the right flank, cutting in from the wing to score a stunning goal in the first-half.
|
Badredine Bouanani |
Vs St Mirren |
Vs Dundee |
|---|---|---|
|
Minutes |
60 |
76 |
|
Key passes |
3 |
1 |
|
Big chances created |
1 |
0 |
|
Dribbles attempted |
3 |
3 |
|
Shots on target |
1 |
3 |
|
Goals |
0 |
1 |
|
Progressive carries |
5 |
5 |
In two starts in the Scottish Premiership, the Stuttgart loanee has recorded four shots on target, scored a goal, and created four chances for his teammates, including one ‘big chance’.
Bouanani has delivered impressive quality in the final third in both of his starts for Rangers, which is why he should now emerge as a regular starter so that he can become a superstar at Ibrox by producing goals and assists week-in-week-out.
How Bouanani could end £2.75m Rangers star’s career at Ibrox
The Algeria international’s exciting potential at Ibrox is not good news for everyone, though, as it may already spell the end of one star’s career at the club.
Rangers made several signings to bolster their attacking options at the top end of the pitch during the summer transfer window, and one of those signings was a £2.75m deal to bring Daisuke Yokota to Glasgow from Hannover.
The 26-year-old winger joined the Gers after a return of five goals and four assists in 30 appearances in the second tier of German football in the 2025/26 campaign.
His lack of consistency in the 2. Bundesliga has carried over to Scottish football with Rangers, as the winger has yet to show that he can produce consistent quality in the final third.
The left-footed attacker has not scored any goals and has only provided two assists in nine appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues since his move from Germany.
In fact, Yokota has yet to score or assist any goals in the Premiership for McInnes’ side, despite playing four matches before sustaining a groin injury last month.
|
2026/27 Premiership |
Daisuke Yokota |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
4 |
|
xG |
0.23 |
|
Goals |
0 |
|
Key passes per game |
0.5 |
|
Big chances created |
1 |
|
xA |
0.56 |
|
Assists |
0 |
|
Successful dribbles per game |
0.3 |
The Japanese wide player has not shown enough in the minutes that he has had this season to suggest that he is going to be a consistent attacking threat for the Gers, and his form for his former club does instill much more faith.
Yokota, who provided one assist in the 5-1 win over St Mirren in the League Cup, may already be in danger of his career at Ibrox being over, because of Bouanani’s form and his own struggles.
When Lawrence Shankland is back, Min-su Kim may exclusively be used on the right flank and that would leave the South Korean star and Bouanani as the first-choice options in that position on current form.
That would leave Yokota, who predominantly plays on the right wing, in a spot of bother because he would already be surplus to requirements, just months into his career in Glasgow.
Football is a brutal and ruthless business and the former Hannover star may feel the wrath of it if the club decide to move him on in January, should he fail to push ahead of Bouanani or Kim in the pecking order.
