Reports have put the brakes on those Rangers links to RC Lens winger Oscar Cortes – even if Ibrox interest has been labelled “real”.
Reports broke in the player’s homeland of Colombia that Rangers are very close to striking a loan-to-buy deal for the 20-year-old Ligue 1 winger this January.
Having just joined Lens in the summer from Millonarios in a €4.5m (£3.8m) deal, Rangers would be signing a very highly-rated young winger and it’s no surprise excitement has built amongst fans.
But several journalists in Scotland, once again reacting to the news breaking elsewhere, have cooled suggestions that a deal is as close as initially reported.
Oscar Cortes to Rangers not as close as reported
First of all, leading Rangers fan media Heart & Hand have claimed that interest in Oscar Cortes is “real” with the club hoping to strike a deal within the next 24-48 hours.
Known to have close links to the club, the outlet will simply be relaying what they’ve been told by sources at Ibrox.
Daily Record journalist Andy Newport is another with links to Rangers and he has claimed that reports suggesting the deal is done “aren’t quite right”.
This is a view echoed by Herald & Times journalist Chris Jack, who claims reports stating that Oscar Cortes is on his way to Glasgow are “wide of the mark”.
Rangers have used fan media and journalists throughout the transfer window to either confirm or deny stories surrounding the club.
Mostly used to deny stories which were being blown up in the media – namely Michy Batshuayi and David Jurasek the biggest examples – we can now be sure that the links to Cortes have substance.
However it appears there is still plenty of work to be done on a deal as Rangers look to strengthen their squad this January.
Ibrox transfer business ramps up
Oscar Cortes is being strongly linked to Rangers as the club look to bolster their attack heading into the second half of the season.
Rangers have already added Wolves forward Fabio Silva to their squad, with Ivorian midfielder Mohamed Diomande also signed from FC Nordsjælland in Denmark.
The club have also been strongly linked with a move for Brazilian left-back Jefte, with Scotland international striker Lawrence Shankland reportedly watched over the weekend.
Manager Philippe Clement has admitted that his side are going to be “busy” in the transfer window and all eyes are on Ibrox as January rolls to a close.
Oscar Cortes does appear to be a strong Rangers target but we’ll have to wait and see if a deal can be completed for the winger on time.
