Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen transfer update emerges at Rangers in January
Mark Hendry has insisted that Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen will likely have their hands tied with scouting potential transfers after giving the Rangers squad a week off.
With the club’s next competitive fixture in the Scottish Cup against Dumbarton on 20 January, Rangers are keeping busy with two friendly fixtures. But with nine days until the first of the double-header, the Football Scotland journalist has shared the likely plans.
However, the Gers manager has revealed that he and, the Director of Recruitment, Koppen have a busy period ahead of them, with “too much business” still to do.
“The players have been told they can have a week to themselves before their training camp in La Manga but the manager revealed this week that there’s too much business still to be done including watching players this month,” Hendry wrote for Football Scotland on Thursday (4 January).
“The transfer window is officially open and Clement – alongside director of recruitment Nils Koppen – will likely have their hands full taking in games and watching potential recruits as they seek reinforcements.”
Stamping his mark
The Rangers squad was full of new and exciting signings following the summer transfer window. However, with many of those disappointing during the first half of the season, it is clear that Clement needs some reinforcements if he is to succeed this season.
The selection of signings was brought to the club by former manager Michael Beale, who was replaced by the Belgian in October. And despite leading them on a 16-game unbeaten streak, it is clear that Clement is unable to stamp his mark on the current set of players.
The manager has made it clear that he needs more depth, with his midfielder struggling lately after the injuries to Ryan Jack and Nico Raskin, as well as the absences of Tom Lawrence and Jose Cifuentes.
Rangers have already brought in Fabio Silva into the club on loan from Wolves, marking the beginning of a potential squad overhaul under the guidance of Clement and Koppen.
The gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership has widened once again, with Celtic bettering their Old Firm rivals at the end of December and increasing the lead to eight points. Rangers are also competing in the Europa League and will need a fully fit squad that Clement can trust to compete late on in the competition.
In other Rangers news, a pundit has shared a “massive” issue the Gers face after watching the win over Kilmarnock.