Philippe Clement, in the build up to Rangers’ devastating Old Firm derby defeat to Celtic on Saturday lunchtime, was quizzed about the prospect of a new, £3 million-rated talent ending up at Ibrox during the summer transfer window.
And while the Rangers boss has often spoke openly about his plans in the past – confirming his desire to retain the services of Abdallah Sima, for instance – Clement kept his cards a little closer to his chest this time around.
“I have said from the beginning that I will never comment on rumours,” the former Monaco coach said. “Because if I had to comment on all of them and, if it was true, I would be training with 300 or 400 players.
“It will not be the case, so we will keep control of that. If I say yes we are far down the road with somebody and we don’t get there, it’s no use. Then, next moment, I get asked about a player we were never interested in.
“And if I say the same things I am lying and I don ‘t want to do that. I want to stay open and honest so I cannot give comment on these things.”
Rangers reportedly near Jose Cordoba deal
As Clement indicates, you should not believe everything you read. But, on this occasion, it appears that Rangers’ interest in Jose Cordoba is not only very real, but developing pretty fast, even if the manager was reluctant to confirm or deny those reports himself.
According to Rangers Review, the Glasgow giants entered advanced talks with Cordoba’s camp on Thursday. The Panama international was then omitted from Levski Sofia’s training session on Friday. And, having travelled to Scotland to watch Rangers beat Kilmarnock 4-1 earlier in May, Cordoba was then left out of the Levski squad in it’s entirety for Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Cherno More.
Per Bulgarian publication Gol, there was no suggestion of injury or illness. It is reported that Rangers have submitted an offer of around £2.5 million, though there is also interest from a Lille outfit closing in on Champions League qualification and Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium.
Cordoba, a left-sided centre-half, would reinforce a Rangers backline with two players on the wrong side of 30 in Leon Balogun and the increasingly error-prone Connor Goldson. Both missed that trip to Parkhead with injury.
Ben Davies perhaps has the most to lose from Cordoba’s arrival. The former Liverpool man has enjoyed an impressive return to action after a long-term absence, however. Davies scored against Kilmarnock and held his own on his first start since October vs Celtic.
Philippe Clement’s side lose Old Firm derby
“Obviously, we are disappointed right now because we have lost the game,” sighs Davies, who spoke out in support of team-mate John Lundstram following the midfielder’s nightmare first-half.
“But we can take positives out of it for sure. We have left ourselves in a difficult position in the league. When the dust settles, though, we will take the positives and look at what we did well ahead of a big cup final.
“John has honestly gone for the ball,” Davies adds, Lundstram given a straight red on the stroke of half-time. “He was disappointed in the dressing room afterwards. But we are a team and we stick together.
“It was a difficult afternoon. I thought we did really well to bounce back and get a goal back straight away after we had conceded two goals. Obviously the second half was difficult.
“We just had to stay in the game for as long as we could and then try and nick something, like we did the last time we were at Parkhead when we were down to 10 men. We created chances and were hoping to could get something towards the end and then go from there. But it wasn’t to be.
“I think it is difficult when you play half the game with 10 men and stay in the game for that long. But I thought that we showed character in the second half, stuck together and stayed in the game for as long as we could looking for that opportunity at the end.”
