Adama Traore has been one of the more high-profile Rangers transfer links of the window.
With Philippe Clement targeting experience ahead of next season, the 56-time capped Malian international has it in abundance.
Rangers were linked to Adama Traore earlier in the transfer window when reports from Africa Foot claimed the Gers were in ‘advanced’ discussions over a deal.
But after a few weeks of radio silence – and Traore returning to pre-season training with Ferencvaros – eyebrows were raised amongst suspicious Ibrox fans.
Now, reports of Fenerbahce interest in Adama Traore have added an extra dimension to the links but it’s not been long in those claims being shot down in Hungary.
Traore report has ‘no basis in reality’
Why wouldn’t Adama Traore be a player in demand this summer?
Whilst the 29-year-old winger has a solid profile, Traore’s Champions League qualification exploits with both Sheriff Tiraspol and Ferencvaros make him an even more attractive prospect.
Throw in an impressive return of 14 goals and five assists in 27 games in Hungary last season and it only strengthens the winger’s resume.
But now local Hungarian publication Sportal have kicked one horse out of the race with recent links to Fenerbahce being shut down as quickly as they arrived.
The Sportal report initially covered the original Africa Foot article which was basis of the Traore to Fenerbahce transfer claims, before attaching an update later in the day.
Claiming that they’d contacted Ferencvaros, Sportal believe the suggestion of Fenerbahce interest has ‘no basis in reality’.
Interestingly, the report does not refute the suggestion that Adama Traore has a €5m (£4.2m) release clause in his contract in Hungary.
Rangers links to winger cast into doubt
Whilst the Hungarian report makes no mention of Rangers, the fact the latest claims around Adama Traore have been shut down will raise eyebrows in Scotland.
In fact with Africa Foot the source of the Fenerbahce report, it’s raised serious doubts over whether Rangers hold any interest in the winger at all.
There has barely been a peep in Scotland whilst any reporting around Rangers’ interest in Adama Traore can all be linked back to the original report from Africa Foot earlier in the summer.
With the links to Turkey rubbished, the situation around Rangers has been suspiciously quiet and we suppose the legitimacy of the claims depends on how full your glass is.
If it’s half-full you’ll take the silence around potential transfer interest as a solid clue given Rangers frequently shut down rumours via friendly journalists.
If it’s half-empty then you’ll suppose that a lack of movement suggests those Ibrox links to Adama Traore might well also have ‘no basis in reality’.
One thing is for sure however, Rangers need attacking reinforcements and greater returns from their wide players next season.
Whilst we’re unsure on Traore, Brighton forward Abdallah Sima has dropped a solid hint that he’s set to return to Rangers.
