Philippe Clement confirms Rangers January transfer window plan for new signings at Ibrox
Philippe Clement has confirmed that Rangers are looking to sign multiple new players during the January transfer window, with hard work being done at the club this month.
The Ibrox boss has admitted that without an extensive transfer budget it is difficult to succeed in the winter transfer market, but he is hoping to make it a positive window at Ibrox.
Fabio Silva is already in on loan but despite likes to various other players, particularly in forward positions and at left-back, there have not yet been any further additions.
Clement said, as per The Herald (14 January): “Everyone is working hard for that, to find the right players who can add something extra to the squad.
“January is always a difficult period in that regard, but everyone in the club is working hard to bring players here. I expect, everybody expects and we are all working hard. I can’t put a figure on it because I know out of experience that you never get everything you want.
“Maybe clubs with all the money in the world, they can do that, but not clubs like Rangers. We are going to make it as good as possible in this period, but it’s much easier in the summer.”
Anticipation
Although Clement has managed to lift the fortunes at Rangers significantly in recent months this is still a squad that badly underperformed earlier in the campaign as Michael Beale was sacked.
Winning the League Cup, qualifying at Europa League group winners and seeing the title race open up again has shown that the right additions for the Belgian could make this a very successful campaign.
Silva is unlikely to be enough to share the burden up front with Cyriel Dessers, while a heavily-tipped Ridvan Yilmaz exit would make reinforcements to the back line important.
If the Turk leaves then a long-term answer at left-back will be no closer than it was 18 months ago, but a striker looks a must, while an injury crisis in midfield earlier in his reign may make Clement look at midfield.
The fact is that the summer overhaul left a lot the work incomplete so the more that the new boss can get done this month the quicker he can compete, but it is easier said than done this month.
Another Old Firm defeat, as Celtic won 2-1 in the latest controversial derby on 30 December, has shown there is little margin for error, but there certainly looks to be an opportunity to salvage a lot more from what had appeared to be a write-off season.
If Rangers can’t provide Clement with what he needs in the winter window it could see that chance go begging, so fans and manager alike will be hoping for success before the deadline.
In other Rangers news, the club have made an approach to sign a player who now has to move this month.