Due to the Gers’ budget, Clement and Nils Koppen are having to search the transfer market for “moderately priced” prospects, rather than splash out on any star players.
This is evidenced by the signing of 20-year-old Clinton Nsiala from AC Milan. While he looks to be an exciting defender, he has never made a first-team appearance for the Serie A side.
Keevins has admitted, however, that the loan deal for Oscar Cortes breaks the mould, though the transfer does pose a risk of its own, with Rangers required to make the move permanent for £4.5million at the end of the season.
Writing for the Daily Record on Sunday (16 June), he said: “There looks to be a pattern emerging at Ibrox to fit this transfer window. It might alternatively be known as Rangers’ manager Philippe Clement playing a dangerous game.
“All of his signings made so far fall readily into the category of being moderately priced and able to be termed projects rather than automatic first-team picks. In other words, it’s what looks suspiciously like the Celtic model of recent times where you buy low and look to sell big at some point in the future.
“Except that Celtic are now in the process of having to off-load a series of development signings who were found seriously wanting almost at the point of arrival in Glasgow.
“The only exception to the rule at Ibrox is Oscar Cortes, who’s on his own in terms of risk strategy. Whether he comes good or goes horribly wrong, Rangers have to pay his parent club, Lens, a fee of £4.5million at the end of the season to come.”
With the Gers required to make the move permanent next summer, splashing out £4.5million on the Lens winger, it is going to be one of the club’s more expensive buys in recent times.
And despite only managing to play seven matches for the Gers before sustaining an injury, the club saw just enough to know that he is worth every penny going forward.
Rangers must be extremely smart with their transfer targets this summer, especially if they are to battle their Old Firm rivals Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title next season.
But considering the low budgets in Scotland, it is unfair to accuse Rangers of copying anyone’s transfer model – it is not Celtic’s to claim.
It makes total sense to purchase and loan players who hold plenty of potential while reducing risk with small fees, such as Nsiala from AC Milan.
Clement will need to nurture the French centre-back next season, hopefully learning from the likes of Leon Balogun, who has put pen to paper on a contract extension at Ibrox.
All transfers will carry a degree of risk – Rangers will know that. Clement and Koppen are set to make multiple changes this summer, though, with a new era about to begin under the Belgian.
In other Rangers news, the Light Blues now lead the race to sign an in-demand talent with a medical on the cards.
GET MORE NEWS HERE
Leave a Reply