Rangers fans have a new hero Moroccan striker Hamza Igamane.
The 22-year-old has burst onto the Scottish football scene and turned heads across Europe with his bulldozing performances in the Ibrox frontline.
Whilst Hamza Igamane has a distinct physicality and power to his game, the talented striker has a lot of grace on the ball, expert timing and a deadly finish.
Rangers fans are pretty much consoled to the fact that Hamza Igamane won’t be leading the Ibrox frontline forever.
But Philippe Clement has encouraged fans not to let such a situation diminish their support for the striker with no plans to cash in just yet.
Philippe Clement ‘confident’ in Hamza Igamane sale
Ahead of the Scottish Premiership clash with Dundee, Hamza Igamane goes into the game off the back of a stunning perfect hat-trick.
Whilst Rangers eventually dropped points at Hibs, the club’s fans are increasingly attached to the young hitman and Kris Boyd hailed Igamane this week.
Philippe Clement was asked about the player’s situation at Rangers and insists that he’s ‘confident’ a ‘higher step’ will eventually beckon.
But the Rangers manager moved to reassure fans that any transfer exit would also be at the right moment for the Gers with no plans to part ways in the ‘near future’.
“They need to be attached,” Clement told the press.
”Because it helps also the players. It gives a lot for energy and confidence.
”We’re not the only club in the world that works like that or has to work like that, it’s the world of football now.
”I had it a lot in my old clubs also before.
”Somebody can make a next step, a higher step and it’s beneficial for the club and the player, there’s no possibility to stop them.
”I saw (Aurélien) Tchouaméni to Real Madrid, or (Benoît) Badiashile to Chelsea, or Charles De Ketelaere to AC Milan, or a lot of players in Genk also leaving to bigger clubs.
“It’s part of the story. I’ve done it also as a player. It’s normal in football.
”The other thing is, it’s important to know what is the right moment, for the club and the player, that’s another thing.
”Those are interesting things. That’s going to be something for the future for Hamza, I am confident about that, but not the near future.”
Clement urges Rangers not to sell and answers contract query
Hamza Igamane is earning fans in the Rangers support but if reports are to be believed, the striker is also turning heads in the Premier League.
It’s been suggested that as many as five Premier League clubs watched Hamza Igamane net in the Europa League v Tottenham and Philippe Clement has previously admitted there is interest in several members of his young squad.
With struggling Everton amongst the names tailing Hamza Igamane, fans reckon it won’t be long until bids land.
There have been suggestions that £12m might be enough to tempt Rangers into selling Igamane.
But for the time being, Philippe Clement has encouraged the Ibrox club to hold their nerve and reject any approaches until the time is right.
The Rangers manager also refused to be drawn on a new contract for Hamza Igamane, with those questions reserved for Nils Koppen and Patrick Stewart.
”I think it’s important now if we want consistency that we’re not going to sell players who are performing well,” said Clement.
”Otherwise it becomes even more difficult.
”Those are things to discuss inside the club.
”We made, and that’s the good thing now, there’s a lot of clarity after this period of six months where there was a big vacuum and I was the only spokesman in the club about things.
”So there’s clarity that this is something for Patrick and Nils to talk about, about contracts.
”Of course I am involved in those things and we discuss everything but that will be on their plates to speak with you guys about those things.”
