Rangers boss Michael Beale has rejected the suggestion that the club were ever interested in new Celtic winger Luis Palma.
Reports in Greece had claimed that Rangers had made a bid for the 23-year-old Honduran who joins the Parkhead club from Greek Super League side Aris.
Luis Palma then also claimed after joining Celtic that his agent had told him that Rangers had made contact over his services.
This led even STV to claim that the winger had “snubbed” Rangers in order to join our Old Firm rivals.
But not all is as the cheap headlines might have you believe and Michael Beale shot down the Rangers links to Celtic winger Luis Palma ahead of the first derby clash of the season at Ibrox.
“Nothing between me and the player,” Michael Beale said.
MORE RANGERS STORIES
“It was very late into last season, early into pre-season where someone from his club was pushing him around.
“We could’ve taken him on loan maybe with an obligation at the time but it wasn’t one that we were willing to do.”
Rangers not interested as Celtic gamble on Luis Palma
The comments suggest that Aris and the player’s representation were trying to get rid of new Celtic signing Luis Palma all summer long.
It’s also not the first time Rangers have rejected the reports of interest in Palma from Ibrox.
It’s telling that for three months no-one would take up any option for the player around whom there are clearly major doubts.
The Parkhead side have forked out a reported £3.5m to sign the young winger who comes in after the eye-watering sale of Portuguese winger Jota to Saudi Arabia.
Rather than beat Rangers to the signing, it very much appears they’ve taken a late gamble on the player to pacify a frustrated Celtic support.
Time will tell if Luis Palma comes good at Celtic – and Rangers fans will be hoping he won’t – but the suggestion of Ibrox interest is patently false.