Ex-Club Brugge manager Philippe Clement has already been rejected once by Michy Batshuayi in his career as hopes around a move to Rangers build.
The Ibrox side reportedly want to strike a deal with the 30-year-old Fenerbahce hitman this week as the club prepares to jet out to a warm weather training camp in Spain.
Out of contract in the summer Batshuayi is reportedly up for grabs and Rangers could pull off an almighty coup by moving for the striker.
But Belgian countryman Philippe Clement will be hoping for better luck than when he tried to sign Michy Batshuayi four years ago during his time in charge of Club Brugge.
Fenerbahce striker once turned down Club Brugge
As explained by Belgian outlet Het Nieuwsblad, Philippe Clement and Club Brugge tried to sign Michy Batshuayi back in July 2020 during the Red Devil’s time at Chelsea.
This was during the three years Clement spent in charge of Club Brugge between 2019 and 2022.
The Premier League giants paid a reported £33m to sign the striker from Marseille in 2016 and had hoped he’d be the heir to former L’OM hitman Didier Drogba’s throne.
During that time at Chelsea, Philippe Clement and Club Brugge were encouraged to test their luck with a loan bid for Michy Batshuayi by former Belgium assistant Vital Borkelmans.
Instead moving back on loan to Crystal Palace that summer, the former Standard Liege hitman was not interested in a return to his home country.
It never quite happened for the Belgian international at Stamford Bridge, despite scoring some big goals for the club, and a series of loan moves eventually proceeded a transfer to Fenerbahce.
Batshuayi also spent spells out on loan at Borussia Dortmund, Valencia, and Bestikas whilst at Chelsea.
Can Philippe Clement sell Michy Bathshuayi on Rangers?
Rangers manager Philippe Clement is on the hunt for a game-changing striker for the second half of the season and Michy Batshuayi is certainly an interesting option.
The club has something of a Belgian connection with new boss Clement and Director of Recruitment Nils Koppen both hailing from the country.
Midfielder Nicolas Raskin – a fellow former Standard player – is also on the club’s books and one suspects he won’t be the only one by the time Clement leaves Ibrox.
The Rangers boss has previously said he doesn’t want the Ibrox squad to become a “Belgian colony” but it’s clear he has a knowledge of the nation’s market and players.
That obviously includes Michy Batshuayi and after failing to convince him to move to Club Brugge, perhaps Philippe Clement can better sell his project at Rangers.
