Philippe Clement wasn’t giving too much away when asked about Rangers’ transfer business following the win over Dundee United.
The Rangers manager has been clear throughout his time at Ibrox that when it comes to the club’s transfer dealings nothing is near, or far, until it’s signed.
But whilst any chatter on incomings was immediately silenced by Philippe Clement as the transfer window prepares to enter its final seven days, there was one situation the Belgian was eager to address.
Philippe Clement might’ve refused questions on Rangers’ transfer business but he couldn’t be clearer that Ibrox defender Ridvan Yilmaz is going nowhere this January.
Philippe Clement on Ridvan Yilmaz ‘shambles’
Ridvan Yilmaz caused a stir on social media when he uploaded pictures of a cafe in Istanbul amid reports linking the Rangers star with a return to Besiktas.
When Yilmaz wasn’t included in Rangers’ matchday squad for the trip to face Dundee United, naturally the transfer chatter intensified.
Speaking before the game, Philippe Clement insisted it was injury and not a move out of Ibrox that had kept Ridvan out of the clash at Tannadice.
Speaking after the 3-1 victory, the Rangers manager branded the entire conversation a ‘shambles’.
“All that story is total shambles,” Clement told the press at full-time.
“It’s a good word. I’m with Alex Rae in the dressing room. I’ve seen Ridvan every day, the last couple of days, so I hear reports that he was in Turkey and all these things. No, he had a small injury.
“I hope he’s back on Thursday. It’s going to be limit, limit, but I don’t have any doubts about that.
“That’s also one of the reasons that we let Robbie Fraser go out on loan, to give him game time, because with Jefte and Ridvan we had two good players in front of him and Robbie deserved also the minutes now in evolution.”
Ridvan Yilmaz himself has responded to Clement’s comments by putting a post on Instagram insisting he’s going nowhere.
The left-back shared an image of himself in a Rangers jersey with the caption: “Here in Glasgow with Glasgow Rangers”.
Rangers manager refuses question on transfers
In another interview with BBC Sport Philippe Clement was asked about Rangers’ January transfer plans with no fewer than 10 injuries now decimating the Ibrox squad.
Explaining that he is in no place to answer questions about the incomings and outgoings at Ibrox, the Gers manager insists he’s focused on getting the most out of the players at his disposal.
There are a number of players expected to leave Ibrox over the next few days with Rangers also expected to be busy with incomings before the window closes.
“Those are questions for [CEO] Patrick [Stewart] and the board,” Clement told BBC Sport.
“I’m focused on the players that are here and focused on getting results.”
