Rangers: Four Lads make £5m transfer talks claim after Oscar Cortes injury news

Stevie Clifford, host of the Four Lads Had a Dream podcast, has insisted Rangers hold all the cards with regard to a permanent transfer deal to sign Oscar Cortes this summer.

Clifford shared his view that, while Rangers' transfer budget could depend on sales, Abdallah Sima will likely be prioritised over any deal for Cortes.

Following the injury blow, which Clifford says came at the "worst possible" time, he insisted the club should attempt to secure another loan move rather than a permanent deal.

Speaking to The Rangers Review [19 March], Clifford shared: "It depends on how much our budget is. They're going to have to do a bit of wheeling and dealing in the summer.

"For example, if Hagi and Lammers went and we got five or six million for them, would you then say you're trying to get Sima for that amount of money before you go and get Cortes?

"I'm not sure we'd spend four or five million on Cortes which it would probably cost at this point. I'd like to see if we can get another loan for him.

"We kind of hold all the cards at the moment. I'm not sure we'll see him again this season, he got injured at the worst possible time."

Will Rangers sign Oscar Cortes on a permanent transfer deal?

Cortes had drawn some extremely high praise during his short spell at Ibrox, and it looked as if his loan would be made permanent in the summer, but the hamstring injury which required surgery threw a spanner in the works.

Given his small amount of game time, despite those impressive displays, it would come as a shock if Rangers were immediately willing to spend a chunk of their summer budget on a permanent deal, with an extended loan making more sense.

His current loan deal reportedly came with an option to buy upon its expiry, but if Cortes is not seen before the end of the season as a result of his injury blow, it would be a surprise to see that triggered.

Chris Jack had previously echoed the claims that any deal for Cortes will likely depend on whether Rangers can find a permanent agreement with Brighton to sign Sima who has been so impressive since arriving at Ibrox on loan.

In other Rangers news, Jack Butland will be disappointed after the latest development at Ibrox.

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