It’s not entirely bleak, though, as Rangers have hit a standstill in what is arguably their most crucial transfer window in the last decade.
The squad urgently needs refurbishment, with five young players arriving at Ibrox to replace five departing senior players, yet this only scratches the surface.
Aside from Jack Butland and Mohamed Diomande, the team’s core is uncertain, and the futures of more than 10 players in the squad are uncertain.
Philippe Clement drops positive Rangers transfer update
Despite the challenges with squad size and the wage bill, Rangers still need to strengthen their team. Amid interest in Joan Jordan and Cheikh Niasse, Philippe Clement shared some encouraging news via RTV:
“We’re not where we want to be at the end of August, but I don’t think any team in the world is.
“Supporters everywhere want that, but it’s not possible.
“So, everybody’s working hard on that.
“How fast things go is beyond our control because it depends on what we can spend, whether other teams want to let players go, how much they ask for, and convincing the players themselves.
“There are several players convinced that Rangers is a good place, but negotiations are still needed.”
Rangers Looking Positive as Clement Discusses Transfers
Reading between the lines, despite needing to sell players, Rangers are on the right track.
If players have agreed to join Rangers, the difficult part is done, and hopefully, the fine print will take care of itself.
There’s no point in talking to clubs and players if finances will block a deal. It’s a lot of wasted time and effort, especially given the size of the task facing Nils Koppen.
Clement also mentioned that the European Championships are delaying the window, and he’s right. There’s a domino effect initiated by big-spending teams and the Saudi Pro League, whose window opens this week.
The urgency comes from when the season starts, not when the transfer window opens. Bigger clubs don’t need to worry about Champions League qualifiers, but Rangers do.
The manager will be mindful of the deadline, but the qualifying campaign for Europe’s elite tournament is the critical moment for the recruitment team.
It sounds like Rangers have enough potential deals in the works to make a difference; now they just need to finalize them.