A lot of players have been linked with moves to Rangers so far in what has been an unusual transfer window.
The brakes have been put on Philippe Clement’s recruitment for now, however, the manager has several irons in the fire and is confident that new signings won’t be far away.
The need to sell players to make room isn’t going away anytime soon but it is still strange to see Rangers not sign the type of player in a position where depth is badly lacking as well as a desire for more quality.
If the pre-season friendlies have shown anything, it is that Clement will be doing everything he can to bring more goals into the forward line.
In particular, he will be wanting players who can create and contribute to the goals scored column from wide areas.
Abdallah Sima did that last season, however, the Gers boss will have to be patient if he is to get his man.
By keeping in touch with the 22-year old, Rangers intentions are clear.
They lost out on Yusuf Kabadayi and things have gone quiet on Adama Traore’s future despite the reports that he was in the “advanced stages” of negotiations over a move to Ibrox.
Relebohile Mofokeng receives high praise amid Rangers link
The other name mentioned in dispatches is Relebohile Mofokeng, the flying South African.
The Orlando Pirates prodigy has been praised for his ability, but now former club legend Lucky Lekgwathi has explained what really makes the teenager and exciting prospect, as told to FARpost:
“Everyone likes him; you can see he’s a humble boy, and he’s always smiling.
“He’s that kind of a player when you tell him, ‘run’ he’ll run. Even if you tell him an instruction, he’ll take it.
“You can see Rele; he’s humble, and that tells you of the hands he’s coming from. He comes from the hands of someone who played for development – Joseph Makhanya.
“[Augusto] Palacious was dealing with discipline. If you look at Joseph Makhanya, he was so disciplined.
“We mustn’t forget to give him credit [for Mofokeng’s discipline]. I look at Rele, and I look at Makhanya, I’m like it’s one and the same thing, Joseph was the same.
I just wish that he continues being the same, be humble and work hard.
“He mustn’t change his attitude. Some players who were not disciplined, played a few seasons, why? They were not humble. They thought I’ve arrived, so the boy must continue that way; he’ll go far.”
Right wing is a key position for Clement to upgrade
Rangers are still relying on Scott Wright and Ross McCausland to cover the right hand side of the attack.
Hard working, honest backups they might be, good enough to help Rangers win the league they aren’t.
The are fine to have on the bench for UEFA quotas or to allow first choice players to rest and recover or to play in the lower rounds of the cup competitions.
What they shouldn’t be, is regular starters if Philippe Clement wants to bring the league title back to Ibrox.
Sima is the big hope, however, Mofokeng fits perfectly towards Nils Koppen’s player trading policy and is at the right stage of his career.
Not only could he make an impact now, but there is potential to sell him at a significant profit down the line too – if his current rate of progress continues.
Clement wants coachable players and Mofokeng sounds like a coach’s dream.
