SEVILLE, SPAIN - MAY 18: Rangers fans during the UEFA Europa League Final between Eintracht Frankfurt v Rangers at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, on May 18, 2022, in Sevilla, Spain. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)
Sam Lammers acknowledges that he was surprised by FC Utrecht’s offer to return to the Eredivisie, even if he had not planned to leave Scottish Premiership contenders Rangers during the January transfer window.
If Sam Lammers’ initial weeks at the Stadion Galgenwaald give any indication, he made the right decision when Utrecht expressed interest in him early in the January transfer window.
In just five games, the revitalised frontman has three assists as well as a goal to his name, ending his drought with a brilliant finish from a tight angle against Fortuna Sittard. His first since hitting the target for Rangers versus Dundee in November.
Sam Lammers back to life after Rangers exit
A change of scenery has worked wonders for Lammers, whose confidence and form are returning, as he has helped Utrecht equal a 33-year-old unbeaten run in the Eredivisie thanks to his spectacular early impact.
Lammers, who signed a £3 million contract with Rangers from Atalanta in June, says to Voetbal International that his departure from Ibrox was “unexpected, after a period with a lot of playing time.” “I intended to remain in Scotland for an extended period of time after signing a four-year deal there.
“Neither did I have to leave. FC Utrecht promptly took action after registering their interest. That influenced my decision last month.
“The decisive action, the positive conversations with Jordy Zuidam (technical director) and Ron Jans (head coach), the confidence I felt, the club as a whole, my ambition to continue playing full matches every week…
“It became a nice package.”
Future at Ibrox uncertain
Lammers, after a difficult couple of years, is now scoring and creating goals at a regular rate for the first time since that prolific spell at Heerenveen back in 2019. A return to Rangers is not out of the question – there is no purchase clause in his Utrecht contract after all – but it is interesting to note that Lammers is not ruling out extending his stay in central Netherlands either.
“I want to keep assisting Utrecht in getting back where the team belongs in the standings. That entails playing football in Europe,” Lammers continues. “I want to demonstrate the lessons I’ve learned in the last year, boost my returns, and contribute significantly to FC Utrecht.”
“We haven’t considered the season’s second half yet. What follows this season will be interesting to see. However, I hope to make an impression while I’m here.
