Hamza Igamane has shown glimpses of his immense potential during his debut season in Scottish football, and now former Rangers defender Alan Hutton is weighing up whether it might be time for the Ibrox club to cash in on the young striker.
The 22-year-old Moroccan has chipped in with 15 goals and three assists, including a stunning hat-trick against Hibernian in January, earning a well-deserved spot on the shortlist for the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award.
He also scooped Men's Young Player of the Year and Men's Goal of the Season at Rangers' in-house ceremony last Sunday.
With a summer transfer window looming, the question on many minds is whether this is the moment for Rangers to make a profit on their rising star.
Speaking on Premier Sports' Scottish Football Social Club, Hutton didn’t shy away from the possibility of Igamane leaving Ibrox, suggesting that if a big offer came in, the club's hierarchy should seriously consider cashing in.
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"Look, he's young," Hutton said. "I think what we've seen from Rangers for a number of years now, they've not been able to sell at the right moment in time, so for me, I think he's done well. He's still young, and I think he will improve and get better. But if a big bid came in for him, you have to sell him.
"How much are we talking? A big bid of £10million? I think you have to let him go for the money you brought him in for. For me it would be a no-brainer. They've made too many mistakes in the past."
While Hutton is clear about the financial reasoning behind selling the £2.5m recruit a year on from his arrival from FAR Rabat, he also offered his thoughts on where Igamane’s best position might be.
"It also depends on where you play him," Hutton explained. "I don't think he's an out-and-out number nine. That's why Barry Ferguson went for [Cyriel] Dessers. He wants a focal point, a guy that's going to run in behind.
"Igamane is more of a float. He likes to move about and get involved in play, linking up. Yes, he can score goals, of course, but it’s all dependent on the bid and where you see his strongest position."
