Jose Cordoba certainly looked set to become Philippe Clement’s first Rangers summer signing last week.
The Panamanian defender, 22, was linked with a move to Rangers in January and sounds started getting louder about an Ibrox move back in the player’s homeland.
A journalist called Jose Miguel Dominguez claimed that Rangers were pipping ‘half of Europe’ to Jose Cordoba, with interest in the Levski Sofia defender from France, Turkey and Belgium.
This was then proceeded by a series of links in Scotland, as the player’s Instagram activity and reports of his presence at the win over Kilmarnock only intensified matters.
Scottish journalist Chris Jack then claimed Rangers are in ‘advanced’ talks over making Jose Cordoba the club’s first signing of the summer, with a deal costing up to £3m.
But before we all start believing that it’s a question of when rather than if, one frustrated Panamanian journalist has been casting doubts about the entire thing in Latin America.
Cordoba to Rangers links ‘strange’
Alvaro Martinez is a Panamanian journalist with links to a number of local news publications.
Speaking via broadcaster COS Panama on the El Desmarque programme, Martinez cut a frustrated figure as he discussed the future of Jose Cordoba.
The journalist claims that he’s been trying his utmost to do some digging on the reports but that the sounds mostly come from Scotland.
Whilst the journalist didn’t want to drop a ‘bomb’ on the entire story, it’s clear that if Jose Cordoba is moving closer to Rangers then his camp is being decidedly tight-lipped about it in Panama.
What’s more, Martinez has suggested that there is nothing cut and dry about the ‘strange’ transfer links to Rangers and appears to suggest Scottish football isn’t a much higher level than the Bulgarian game.
“Look, I have been investigating the Jose Cordoba links because I think half of Scotland already takes it for granted,” said Alvaro Martinez.
“Jose Cordoba to Rangers; I don’t know if you can help me with my memory of another Panamanian active in Scottish football?
“That I remember, Thierry Small (ex-St Mirren loanee)? And he is not 100% Panamanian, he was not born in Panama but he has Panamanian roots.
“Anyway, I tried to look for information from people close to Jose Cordoba and they didn’t confirm anything, but why is there so much information in many media outlets in Scotland?
“What’s going on? Is everything already cooked? I ask it as a question. I am not stating anything or proclaiming myself to drop a bomb, because that bomb in the beginning was dropped in Bulgarian soccer.
“But the Bulgarian soccer friend who was going to participate here in El Desmarque, if you want, we will call him and we will have the information.
“Let Carlos Mendoza (the host) prepare the whole scenario but the truth is it is strange because the information does not come from here, it comes from Scotland.
“Is that convenient or not convenient? I think it’s a step, not a big step.
“It seems to me that Scotland has a better level than Bulgaria but not that much, so a small step.”
Rangers transfer doubts raised
It appears that Alvaro Martinez is frustrated for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, the journalist cannot get the scoop on what’s happening with Jose Cordoba and a potential move to Rangers with all parties seemingly tightlipped.
Secondly, the journalist doesn’t exactly think too highly of Scottish football but perhaps views Cordoba’s future at a much higher level.
Nonetheless, the journalist has cast some doubt over the Rangers move but Ibrox fans have been round this course too many times to know that nothing is signed until it’s signed.
And they get to see a picture with a scarf above the player’s head.
Jose Cordoba certainly looks an exciting target but until there is a more concrete breakthrough with Rangers we won’t be ruling anything in, or out.
