Adama Traore was one of this summer’s earliest transfer links to Rangers.
The Malian international winger, 28, doesn’t exactly fit the Nils Koppen transfer model of buying young and selling high.
But at the same time Philippe Clement has stressed the need for top team experience with Adama Traore an established player at Hungarian side Ferencvaros.
Having also spent time with Sheriff Tiraspol, the winger is regarded as something of a Champions League qualification specialist.
But since reports of ‘advanced stage’ negotiations between Traore and Rangers broke last month, there’s been barely a peep surrounding the pacey wide man.
That is until now.
Traore misses Ferencvaros training
Adama Traore is widely regarded as one of the most talented players in the squad of Hungarian champions Ferencvaros.
One of the west African winger’s former teammates even said as much in a recent interview.
Traore’s reported valuation of around £3.5m also makes him an affordable option for would-be suitors.
But despite Traore’s role in the Ferencvaros squad, the winger has been posted missing from a pre-season training in Austria this week.
According to Csak Foci, Adama Traore did not travel with Ferencvaros for the camp which started last Thursday (20th June).
But before Rangers fans get too carried away with what this potentially means, the report does stress that the Malian is expected to join up with his teammates at a later, as of yet unconfirmed, date.
Surinamese defender Myenty Abena and Tunisian midfielder Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane are also not in attendance at the camp as things stand.
Rangers transfer hunt continues
Rangers return to pre-season training today with Philippe Clement set to assess his charges before putting the squad through their paces at Auchenhowie.
With several of the most influential members of the dressing room quitting the club at the end of their contracts, we expect the atmosphere to be somewhat different too.
But perhaps Rangers manager Clement might’ve wanted a few more of his summer transfer targets in through the door before the resumption of training.
So far Rangers have only added three new faces to the squad from last season.
Brazilian left-back Jefte (Fluminense) has joined after a season on loan at APOEL, whilst French defender Clinton Nsiala (AC Milan) and Scotland U21 midfielder Connor Barron (Aberdeen) have also signed.
The sounds around a move for Adama Traore are suspiciously quiet, even if the reports originated in popular African publication Africa Foot.
It’s about a month since Rangers were last mentioned and it appears that the winger is set to return to Ferencvaros training in the coming days.
Rangers meanwhile continue to ramp up their transfer business with the club closing in on new signing number four in the shape of talented young striker Hamza Igamane.
According to one leading football data company, the Moroccan hitman is amongst the brightest young striker talents in global football.
