A week ago, this English-based manager was quizzed about the speculation linking his club with a late-summer move for Rangers’ £2.5 million man.
And John Eustace admitted that, yes, there was some truth in the reports suggesting that Rabbi Matondo had caught the eye of Blackburn Rovers.
But after the winger’s sparkling performance in the 6-0 dismantling of Ross County – scoring twice in what was probably his finest Rangers display to date – Philippe Clement indicated that he was keen to keep Matondo north of the border for the time being.
“I hope that he continues what he’s been doing now,” Clement told Sky Sports. “I think he’s going to stay yeah. Otherwise, somebody needs to come with enough money.
“You never know in the last week (of the window). But my idea is that he will be here this season.”
Blackburn, their hopes of landing Matondo suffering a potentially fatal blow by a mesmerising display which might just have saved his Ibrox career, now appear to have shifted their focus to another Rangers player.
And if Clement is keen to keep Matondo in the building, then the same certainly cannot be said of Todd Cantwell.
Rangers could sell Todd Cantwell to Blackburn Rovers
The £1.5 million misfit handed in a transfer request in July, Clement confirming that he simply hasn’t settled in Scotland while exiling him from the first-team picture alongside Ianis Hagi.
And with offers not exactly flying in, Blackburn feel like Cantwell’s best chance of playing any semblance of first-team football for the remainder of the season.
“I certainly am very hopeful (of bringing in new signings),” Eustace told the Lancashire Telegraph when about the prospect of Cantwell heading to Ewood Park before the transfer deadline. “You can see tonight we still short in a few areas.
“Hopefully, the club can bring in the right players to give that competition for places. The recruitment team are working very hard.
“Todd is someone that has been spoken about.”
Eustace was reluctant to give too much away, though he does refer to the 26-year-old as a ‘very good player’.
Cantwell is not the only player on the Rovers’ radar, however. The 1995 Premier League champions are showing interest in ‘five or six other good players’ too.
John Eustace also likes Rabbi Matondo
Cantwell does, at least, appear to be very high on that wishlist. Reporter Alan Nixon explains via his official Patreon page that Blackburn are preparing to strike a cut-price deal for a player who was once valued at £30 million but may be worth a tiny fraction of such a fee these days.
“If people leave, we need other people. In it is clear. Otherwise, we’re short in that position,” Clement said during last Friday’s press conference, broadcast on Rangers’ YouTube channel.
“I don’t know which bids come in. I really don’t know, because I’m not interested in that. I’m busy with the squad, with the team.
“There’s no reason for me to know every bid that comes in for a player or for what amount, because I’m not at the end the one who makes the decisions about the money in the club.
“Todd made his own opinion about things, why he doesn’t want to stay in Scotland,” the former Monaco boss adds. “And I don’t speak only about Rangers.
“It’s more Scotland, why he wanted to leave.”
