The transfer window hasn’t even opened yet and already Rangers are being linked with players to give Philippe Clement the team he needs to usurp Celtic.
The manager has been vocal on what needs to be done to upgrade the squad, but it isn’t always as easy as simply identifying good players.
One link already looks like it won’t come to fruition with an update being provided on a player Rangers were said to be targeting – it’s going to be a long summer for Philippe Clement.
Raphael Borges Rodrigues makes Rangers move decision
Reportedly on Rangers radar, Raphael Borges Rodrigues has enjoyed a breakthrough season in Australia’s A League, however, it looks like the 20-year old winger is heading to England instead of Scotland and joining Coventry City.
The winger is said to already be in the air and heading to the UK.
Scouting players is one thing, getting them to move to the SPFL is another, a fact that Clement is fully aware of:
“I think as a club we are in some ways at the end of a cycle. So we need to change some things. The fitness is not good enough to play three games a week at high intensity, that is the reason for so many injuries.
“Very importantly, I had very good talks with the board about my ideas, what to change, towards recruitment, towards positions, all those things.
“Let’s say we are aligned in almost everything, which is a big thing. In a lot of clubs it is sometimes more difficult.
“So that’s the first step, the second step is to do it of course. You can have amazing plans but you have to execute them.”
Rangers need to address winger issue for Clement
Rangers are going to need plenty of wingers during the summer.
On paper, the only ones in Philippe Clement’s squad are Scott Wright, Ross McCausland and Rabbi Matondo.
Not exactly a trio you would back to win you a league title.
McCausland has shown recently that he can be more productive, but he shouldn’t be starting as many games as he is.
He could well be the only one left when next season kicks off given that Clement doesn’t want to see players let their contracts run out and he is trying to weed out those who are prone to injury.
Hopes are high for a return for Oscar Cortes, and there is constant dialogue over the chances of Abdallah Sima being signed permanently.
A player or two like Raphael, on cheap wages and a small outlay, would be smart business.
Rangers are said to have won the race for 19-year old Relebohile Mofokeng and it could be that it was a case of one or the other between him and Raphael.
He certainly won’t be the last player that Rangers are linked with and don’t sign this summer.
