Back in November Noah Mbamba was being linked to Rangers, now the midfielder could be getting a Bundesliga winner’s medal with Bayer Leverkusen.
The Belgian teenager, 19, is a squad player for the German giants who could finally be about to win their first Bundesliga title in the history of the club.
Noah Mbamba was once again named on the bench in the weekend’s win over Mainz to maintain the eight point lead Xabi Alonso’s side have at the top of the table.
If Bayer Leverkusen are to go on and lift the title, it’ll end a quite astonishing 11-in-a-row run for Bayern Munich, who were beaten 3-0 by Bayer earlier in February.
Noah Mbamba – who has made three Bundesliga appearances this season – was an unused substitute for the German side in that famous victory.
Noah Mbamba heading for title with Bayer Leverkusen
Rangers were said to be leading the race for Noah Mbamba’s signature back in January, pipping even the likes of Manchester City to the midfielder’s services.
Philippe Clement gave the young Belgian his footballing debut whilst at Club Brugge and the suggestion is the sway of the Rangers manager could engineer an Ibrox switch.
Having just moved for Noah Mbamba in the summer of 2023, the midfielder is contracted to Bayer Leverkusen until 2028 and we don’t suspect they’ll be in a rush to sell the kid.
But going by Mbamba’s limited appearances this season, and Bayer Leverkusen’s progress under Xabi Alonso, perhaps a loan move might tempt Rangers in the summer.
Have Philippe Clement & Rangers moved on?
There’s a reason why Ibrox manager Philippe Clement handed Noah Mbamba his debut as a 16-year-old but at the time the Belgian tempered expectations.
Claiming that the midfielder must grow “step-by-step” it’s obviously a mantra which has transferred to his time in Germany.
“He shows a lot in training every day,” former Club Brugge boss Clement said back in 2021.
“He has worked a lot but be careful. The road is still long. I will do with him as with Charles De Ketelaere (who eventually joined AC Milan for £30 million). Let him grow and give him playing time without asking too much of him. He must grow step by step.”
Whilst Rangers have been linked to Noah Mbamba, the emergence of one midfielder suggests that even minutes at Ibrox could be hard to come by.
Signed in the January window, Mohamed Diomande has been a revelation at Ibrox and his signature suggests the club may well have moved on.
