What a club president says in public, and what he feels in private, are two very different things. That certainly appears to be the case in Rangers’ pursuit of a player who may be available for a lot less than his supposed price-tag.
Philippe Clement has made no secret of the fact that this will be a big summer at Ibrox.
By the time February rolls around, only a handful of the players who won the Scottish Premiership under Steven Gerrard in 2021 are likely to remain, Ryan Jack, John Lundstram, Borna Barisic and Leon Balogun all out of contract.
And, harsh though it may sound, Rangers cannot afford to let past loyalties impact their future. Ruthlessness is required in the transfer market, Clement and director Nils Koppen under pressure to tear down the final ruins of the Gerrard kingdom and build a new one out of the rubble.
The process has already begun. Mohammed Diomande and Oscar Cortes made a big impression after joining in January, and can both be snapped up on permanent deals. Rangers are also closing in on a £3.2 million deal for highly-rated centre-half Jose Cordoba, and look well placed to bring in Jefte Vital from Fluminense as Barisic’s replacement.
They are reportedly at the front of the queue for Orlando Pirates whizzkid Rele Mofokeng.
Rangers could get Albion Rrahmani a little cheaper
The perennial runners-up may need to make some tough decisions up top too. Danilo’s debut season has been destroyed by injury and is Cyriel Dessers really reliable enough to bring the biggest prizes back to Ibrox?
Rangers’ interest in Albion Rrahmani means Dessers – scorer of a respectable 22 goals – is far from likely to begin next season as Clement’s number one striker. Especially with Romanian publication Sport claiming that Rapid Bucharest ‘can be convinced’ to accept bids of £4.2 million, despite president Dan Sucu’s very public demands for a much larger fee.
Speaking to Digi Sport recently, Sucu insisted that a fee of 8 million euros would not be ‘out of place’ for Albion Rrahmani. Or, if you like, £6.8 million.
If reports are to be believed, however, Rapid could sell their 19-goal marksman for nearly £3 million less than that, with Sucu’s comments maybe made with a desire to raise Rrahmani’s profile and ensure that his current employers are negotiating from a position of strength.
Neil Lennon hopes to stop Ibrox move
Rrahmani, who won the Golden Boot in his native Kosovo last season, suddenly finds himself working alongside one Neil Lennon in Romania. The Celtic legend was confirmed as Rapid’s new manager this week, and Lennon is understandably keen to avoid losing the 23-year-old, especially to his old adversaries in royal blue.
“I don’t want Rahmani to go anywhere,” Lennon told Sport during his introductory press conference. “He is a very good player. Goalscorers are very important players in a team. He had a fantastic season.
“It’s a discussion I hope will take place. But I’m not in control at the moment.”
