Last month, Rangers boss Philippe Clement made sure to temper expectations around a couple of the club’s many summer signings.
While 21-year-old’s Jefte Vital and Connor Barron should compete for a place in Clement’s XI right from the off – certainly following the departures of Borna Barisic and Ryan Jack – patience will be required when it comes to Clinton Nsiala and Hamza Igamane.
Nsiala, Clement said, possesses ‘a lot of talent’. But the former AC Milan starlet is only 19, and is yet to make a single appearance in the senior game.
Igamane, meanwhile, arrives at Rangers from Moroccan football. The talented but raw striker will take some time to adapt.
And while Barry Ferguson is excited about the addition of up-and-comers Nsiala, Igamane and co, the former Gers skipper cannot hide his relief at the arrival of more experienced campaigners. Two players who bring with them a proven track record in a competitive European league, and should slot straight into Clement’s first-team picture.
Rangers reunite Vaclav Cerny with Robin Propper
Rangers signed Vaclav Cerny on loan from VFL Wolfsburg last weekend. The winger now finds himself reunited in Glasgow with his one-time FC Twente captain Robin Propper.
“I predicted that – having recruited some young, fresh talent, kids with potential – Clement would turn his attention to recruiting more experienced players who are ready to be thrown straight into the first team,” Ferguson tells the Daily Record.
“Well, as soon as Sam Lammers and Connor Goldson had completed their moves out of Ibrox, Rangers had a couple of significant signings coming in through the front door.
“The arrivals of Vaclav Cerny and Propper should have lifted some spirits because these guys are exactly the calibre I was hoping to see. Players with bags of experience who should slot straight into the starting XI.
“I fully expect there will be more to follow.”
Cerny, Ajax academy graduate who was once labelled a ‘special’ talent by Erik ten Hag, scored 15 goals and set up 13 in his final Eredivisie campaign back in 2022/23.
An electrifying presence when fully fit, the Czech Republic international could be the game-changing right-winger Rangers have been searching for arguably ever since Daniel Candeias bid farewell back in 2019.
Propper, meanwhile, was one of the finest defenders in Dutch football last term, captaining FC Twente to a top three finish.
Clement feels Rangers have got a bargain, too, when snapping up the Goldson replacement for a cut-price £1.5 million.
Philippe Clement’s side kick off away to Hearts
Cerny, during his press conference on Friday, admitted that the lunchtime trip to Tynecastle is likely to come too soon for him. Propper, in contrast, may be thrown straight in at the deep end as Rangers look to get off to a perfect start away to Lawrence Shankland’s Hearts.
“As far as the rest of the players are concerned, the message is simple,” adds the five-time Scottish Premiership winner. “No distractions, no excuses, go out there and get the job done.
“Obviously there’s been a lot of noise around the club this summer because of what’s going on with the stadium and also some dissatisfaction with the way the transfer window has played out – or at least up until the last few days.
“But, when you pull that shirt over your head, none of that matters. You have one job – to go out there and make sure you get back off the pitch with three points in the bag.
“That’s the only thing that would be on my mind and that’s the way Clement’s players have to approach the opening day of the season. And every day after that, for that matter.”
