The January window is a third of the way over already and, still, an increasingly frustrated Rangers fanbase are awaiting their first signing of 2025.
Philippe Clement was keen to give little away when quizzed on the subject as Rangers’ away woes continued at Dundee on Thursday night, though the window could quickly spring into life if Cyriel Dessers departs in the coming days.
Rangers have opened talks with interested clubs over Dessers. The £4.5 million signing from Cremonese has attracted interest from Italy and France, according to reports, and his exit would certainly enhance the budget at Clement’s disposal.
Now, while Dessers may need to be replaced with another centre-forward, it is at the other end of the pitch where Rangers feel particularly in need of reinforcements.
Clement was without John Souttar, Leon Balogun, Dujon Sterling and Neraysho Kasanwirjo again at Dens Park. As such, the Rangers boss was forced to hand Clinton Nsiala a Premiership debut, the former AC Milan youngster arguably the standout performer on another poor night.
Watford boss plays down Ryan Porteous rumours amid Rangers claim
Scotland international Ryan Porteous is an option the Gers could consider.
Former Rangers captain Craig Moore talked up Porteous this week. Though Watford boss Tom Cleverley is keen to squash the rumours before they really begin, insisting that claims suggesting Porteous is unhappy at Vicarage Road are wide of the mark.
“I spoke to Ryan this morning, and we cleared the air,” Cleverley said during his press conference on Friday. “I don’t know where the reports have come from, and I don’t think there are any quotes in the stories.
“He is one of a number of our players that have attracted a little bit of interest but, right now, Ryan is a Watford player and right in the thick of things for selection. He is professional and experienced enough that these things won’t take his eye off the ball.
“He’s a Watford player. He’s available for selection and he’s fully focussed on doing his job for Watford.”
The Championship outfit reportedly paid around £500,000 to sign Porteous from Rangers’ Scottish Premiership rivals Hibernian back in 2023. The Edinburgh-born 25-year-old would therefore be about as low-risk a signing as you could imagine as far as potential winter additions are concerned, the sort of player capable of walking straight into Clement’s XI without the need for a lengthy period of adaptation.
Clement, speaking after Rangers fell a colossal 15 points adrift of Old Firm rivals Celtic in the Premiership table on Thursday night, insists that questions over a lack of transfer activity should be answered by the club’s chief executive Patrick Stewart over the coming days.
“Like I said a few days ago, and I think it’s said to everybody already, Patrick will address that in the next couple of days,” Clement says.
“We have everyday talks about everything, about January, about next season, about everything.”
Craig Moore talks up Porteous to Ibrox idea
Rangers will face St Johnstone this weekend, a welcome return to Ibrox for a club who have won only three of their 11 Premiership matches away from home this term.
“He knows the domestic game inside out,” Moore told the Go Radio Football Show this week, spelling out why Porteous could be a sensible addition at Ibrox.
“If he is not playing at Watford. Look, those type of players are certainly one to consider for me. If they are not getting game time down south. Not a bad option at all. We know he would be absolutely fine up here.
“He’s not going to run into anything that he isn’t aware of. He’s seen it and experienced it. Naturally left-sided I am sure and quite physical. He will be one of a few options I am pretty sure Rangers will be looking at.”
