Rangers transfer news: Stance emerges on mooted January Ibrox exit for Rabbi Matondo
Rangers winger Rabbi Matondo will not be leaving the club before the close of the January transfer window, according to the Scottish Sun.
The paper reported on their website on 30 January that a potential loan back to the Bundesliga was not on the cards before the 1 February deadline.
German outlet Bild had suggested on 29 January the 23-year-old could be a potential target for Mainz, but that has been shut down.
Philippe Clement and his recruitment team is instead busy trying to increase the options of the flanks with a push for Oscar Cortes from Lens.
Nothing doing
It was speculation as much as anything from Bild so it is no surprise that there is no deal to be done for the Welshman.
His history in Germany with Schalke may keep him in mind there for teams in need of pace out wide but Rangers are also short of options on the wing so there would be little sense in letting him leave this month.
Although Matondo has made 47 appearances in all competitions across his season and a half at Ibrox they have often been off the bench, and he has been periodically unavailable thanks to injury like so many in the squad.
His £3million move from Schalke [Football Scotland] hasn’t been a roaring success so far despite flashes of quality, and his two goals and four assists across all competitions this season are a modest return.
With Abdallah Sima now ruled out for multiple months it would be extremely timely if the 11-cap international could generate more of an impact.
If things don’t pick up between now and the end of the season Matondo could well be a candidate to move on as Clement continues to shape the squad in his image, but with attacking options thin on the ground thanks to injury right now it wouldn’t make sense to lose one for anything other than substantial permanent money.
In other Rangers news, another first-team player’s exit is now advanced following a deal collapse.
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