Philippe Clement claims that Rangers’ January striker hunt could depend on the fitness of Kemar Roofe.
The Gers are currently waiting on the results from the injury-plagued striker’s latest scan, the forward hobbling off just minutes into a rare start against St Johnstone.
Fitness issues have plagued Roofe ever since he joined the Gers in 2020 and with the striker’s contract up at the end of the season, the Ibrox prognosis is not a particularly good one.
Speaking ahead of the Scottish Premiership clash with Motherwell, Philippe Clement hasn’t ruled Kemar Roofe out just yet but it appears discussions are in the pipeline.
Philippe Clement talks Kemar Roofe
With Kemar Roofe out of contract in the summer, Rangers may well look to recruit a more longer term striker option in the January window.
Whilst Philippe Clement has been clear that a new forward option is on the agenda in the past, the fitness situation with the forlorn forward could be a major catalyst for enhanced investment into the squad in the winter window.
“We will discuss (any striker plans) in the club,” said Clement. “We will first see what is the situation with Kemar (Roofe) and how long he will be out. That’s also important, to make good decisions.
“The most disappointing is for him. Because he’s doing everything to avoid it. He felt really good.
“We’re now assessing what can be the reason, and to look very deep, very much into detail, to find solutions for him, together with him.
“So everybody is really disappointed for Kemar, because for him it’s the worst thing.”
Rangers manager on transfer window
It wasn’t just Kemar Roofe that Philippe Clement was touching on when it comes to Rangers’ January transfer plans either.
The Belgian boss was also discussing how far down the line Rangers are with regards new signings in the upcoming window.
Claiming that journalists will know the moment a deal is signed, the Rangers manager has previously been clear he’ll not be giving any nuggets away in a press conference.
“It’s simple in that way,” said Clement. “As long as there are no signings you can be that far on the road that you want, you don’t know how long the road is.
“So, as long as no-body’s in the building, that there are no medical exams made and that the paper is not signed, you’re nowhere. So it’s always like that.
“I have seen somethings going really fast in the past, sometimes you think everything is ok and another team gets the player gets the player in the last second or something, or his heart kicked out, so those things happen, so we will see.
“The moment that something is signed, I can promise you guys, one second later you will know.”
Speaking of potential striker targets, there is one Premier League name already doing the rounds.
