When describing how Rangers managed to pull off a bargain deal for one of their most eye-catching summer signings, ‘inventive’ is the word that came to Philippe Clement’s mind.
With even the most deep-pocketed Scottish clubs usually unable to compete with richer clubs based in Europe’s major leagues, Rangers and Old Firm rivals Celtic are forced to think outside the box.
Often, this results in Ibrox becoming home to talented, affordable young players with substantial re-sale potential.
See Clinton Nsiala, Mohamed Diomande, Oscar Cortes, Jefte Vital, Connor Barron and Hamza Igamane; all under the age of 22.
Or, on occasions, more senior players who have found themselves on the market after struggling to nail down a spot at a club higher up the pecking order.
Vaclav Cerny, the former Ajax whizzkid, will look to showcase his ‘special’ talents in Glasgow after a difficult spell in Germany with Wolfsburg.
In the case of Robin Propper, meanwhile, Rangers took advantage of a clause in the former captain’s FC Twente contract.
Philippe Clement hails Rangers newbie Robin Propper
As director Arnold Bruggink explains, the Eredivisie outfit were forced to let their skipper go for just £1.5 million.
Rangers took advantage of an agreement Twente made with Propper last summer when they blocked the 30-year-old from sealing a move to an unnamed ‘top European club’, per the Daily Record.
But for these exceptional circumstances, £1.5 million may not have been enough to get you even Propper’s weaker left peg, let alone his whole 6ft 3ins frame.
“Normally, for the amount of money we pay now for Propper, you can never get him,” Clement says via the club’s official YouTube channel. “(The Dutchman arrives so cheap) because he had a situation last year when the club stopped him from going and he had a clause in his contract.
“Those things are also important. What I know is everyone in the club gives everything to get the best possible squad now in this window. Everyone is doing that and I feel the support of the board.
“You need to be on top of things so you need to be inventive. We know we don’t have the biggest budget so you need to use the resources to find opportunities in the market, with players who have the quality to make the project better.”
Propper officially joined Rangers on Thursday night, reuniting with former team-mates Danilo, Vaclav Cerny and Cyriel Dessers.
It remains to be seen whether the ex-Heracles stopper will be free to make his Premiership bow against Hearts on Saturday lunchtime. Clement admits that it may be touch and co whether the requisite paperwork is in place.
But, while that trip to Tynecastle may come too soon for Propper, the Gers boss is convinced that the Dutchman’s ball-playing prowess and his vast experience will make him an inspired replacement for the departed Connor Goldson.
Rangers face Hearts in Premiership opener
“He is going to bring leadership. He is going to bring coaching qualities on the pitch and a good example to young players of how to be professional,” explains Clement, feeling that teenage newbie Nsiala can only benefit from Propper’s presence.
“He has really good qualities on the ball also, so he is going to help us to play a good kind of football.
“Having somebody like him is gold for players like Clinton Nsiala. It’s why we also resigned Leon Balogun. It’s not only to play his games or be part on the pitch but also off it. It’s important to create a top sport culture where everyone is on their toes every day, with the ambition to become better.
“If we can create this culture it is our job as a staff to give them all the tools to develop every day and challenge them. You need people with the right mentality coming into the building.”
Prior to Propper’s arrival, Clement had spoken openly about his desire to add some battlescarred nous to a rather callow dressing room.
Speculation abounds regarding a potential swoop for fellow 30-year-old and Sevilla playmaker Joan Jordan.
If Propper is unable to go head-to-head with Hearts hitman and Ibrox-linked Lawrence Shankland, meanwhile, Clement may instead put his faith in a John Souttar – Ben Davies partnership.
“We don’t know yet (if Propper can play) because I don’t think all the papers are already arranged,” adds the towering Belgian, the ink still drying on his own new contract.
“The good thing is, physically, he is ready to play games because he had a normal preparation with FC Twente who play at a good level. He played enough games. Of course, he needs to adapt to how we want to play because it’s different to Twente.”
