Philippe Clement has braced Rangers supporters for transfer disappointment as the Gers look to get several players off the wage bill.
The Belgian manager has been open about the need to sell before Rangers can buy this summer with serious questions over the quality of the so-called ‘rebuild’ which is currently taking place.
At the same, Philippe Clement has been clear that it will take several windows for his squad to take shape with Rangers hurting following the club’s costly Champions League exit.
With two weeks left until the summer transfer window closes, Rangers manager Clement has been getting grilled on the club’s plans.
And it’s fair to say that what the ex-Club Brugge and AS Monaco boss has had to say on the matter doesn’t exactly intimate confidence or harmony.
Clement gives bleak transfer update
Speaking ahead of Rangers’ Premier Sports Cup clash with St Johnstone at Hampden, Philippe Clement was asked about the club’s transfer plans.
In yet another candid update, Clement has made it very clear that Rangers are waiting to free up a mixture of wages and transfer funds this summer.
The Rangers manager has however suggested, for the first time, that those players who’ve been told to move on are not doing so quickly enough.
It’s given the impression of an unhappy camp with several first-team players training with the club’s B team and now disenfranchised with the Belgian’s leadership.
“There are so many rumours about players,” said Clement
“We had a talk several weeks ago that it’s important for the club to sell also players to get players.
“So I don’t know what’s going to happen the next two weeks in that way.”
When asked if Rangers need to move players on before adding others, Clement said: “Yes that’s the case.
“And some of them know it already a really long time and they’re still in the building so that makes things more difficult.
“But it is what it is. I cannot put a gun to their head to get them out of the building, that’s also not the idea.
“It’s not something I can control. So I don’t put any energy in that.
“All the energy is in the players who are here, the players who will be here, and to get the next result. All the energy is in that.”
Clement might’ve entertained some vagueness surrounding the club’s transfer plans, but the Rangers manager is clearly indicating that money is very tight.
What’s more, a number of dominoes will have to fall before the club can move for the players they want to bring in this summer.
And they might not tumble at all.
It’s an ominous situation, and as journalists pressed the manager over a potential title challenge Clement eventually conceded.
When asked about adding more quality to challenge this season, Clement finished by saying: “Do we need more quality to make a next step? Also for sure. Everybody knows that and I know everybody is working really hard for that also.”
The transfer grilling didn’t end there either and Clement revealed a mid-term injury to routinely crocked left-back Ridvan Yilmaz, the Belgian faced one more enquiry.
Asked about signing a potential replacement, Philippe Clement gave a wry smile.
“I don’t think we have the assets to do those things now,” said the Rangers manager.
“I think we need to put all the focus on the positions we need for the squad for the rest of the season.”
Who are Rangers trying to sell?
Whilst Rangers fans are agitating for more transfer business coming into the club, the focus is firmly on moving unwanted stars out of the building.
The question is, who was Philippe Clement referring to when he spoke about players needing to move on?
Heading the list is wantaway midfielder Todd Cantwell, who handed in a transfer request earlier in the summer.
The Norwich City playmaker has been a key player for the club over his 18 months in Glasgow but is yet to negotiate his transfer out of Ibrox.
Cantwell reportedly met with officials at Trabzonspor last week and could join Borna Barisic and John Lundstram in Turkey.
Another high profile name who is negotiating his exit is Romanian international Ianis Hagi.
Hagi was a crucial member of the Rangers squad before a cruciate ligament injury interrupted his Ibrox career.
A loan spell at Alavés didn’t go to plan last season and now Ianis has been playing and scoring hattricks with Rangers B.
Fiorentina have been mentioned and there have been murmurs that Rangers could cut their losses to get the 25-year-old off the wage bill.
Alex Lowry is another ‘number 10’ who has been exiled under Philippe Clement.
The 21-year-old netted a stunner against Clyde for the B team this week but the Ibrox academy graduate’s future remains up in the air.
Rangers have reportedly told Lowry that he should move on this summer but for the time being the kid remains in the club’s reserve squad.
The likes of Leon King and Adam Devine are also yet to be seen this season as Philippe Clement lays down the state of play at Ibrox.
Those Leeds United links to Rabbi Matondo have now been rubbished but the Welsh winger’s future remains unclear this summer.
There are also questions over the futures of Kieran Dowell and Scott Wright heading into the final furlong of the window.
Rangers number nine Cyriel Dessers also remains the subject of routine transfer speculation.
