There is some rather mixed news for Rangers supporters awaiting the arrival of the club’s third summer signing.
After finally luring Jefte Vital to Ibrox five months after agreeing terms with Fluminense for the Brazilian left-back, the Scottish Premiership runners-up then finalised a deal to bring Oscar Cortes back to Ibrox for a second spell from RC Lens, albeit this time with a £4 million obligation-to-buy clause in his contract.
So that’s two deals done. A left-back and a left-winger, offsetting the potential departures of Borna Barisic and Abdallah Sima.
Now, attention turns to centre-forwards and centre-halves. Rangers director Nils Koppen has reportedly met with the agent of £4.2 million-rated Rapid Bucharest frontman Albion Rrahmani, their foot firmly glued onto the accelerator in pursuit of a man who arrived in Romania last summer with the Kosovan league’s Golden Boot under his arm.
Rangers are not, it seems, quite so far down the line in the chase for defensive reinforcements however.
Rangers pursuing Godoy Cruz defender Thomas Galdames
A month after Jose Cordoba was given a tour around Ibrox with talks ‘advanced’, the Panama powerhouse put pen to paper on a £3 million deal with Norwich City.
Philippe Clement’s Cordoba alternative, meanwhile, is not yet packing his bags. While Thomas Galdames himself insists that the plan is to seal a summer exit rather than wait for the winter – Godoy Cruz really need to sell before he becomes a free-agent in December – there is ‘nothing serious’ enough to suggest that a departure from the Argentine outfit is particularly imminent.
“Since he arrived, Thomas has grown impressively,” Alejandro Chapini, the Godoy Cruz president, tells Diairio AS. “For now, it’s all polls (interest and rumours).
“But (there is) nothing serious to say that he is close to moving to another club.”
Argentines will not block Ibrox move
25-year-old Galdames has spent much of his time at Godoy Cruz playing at left-back, grabbing two assists in a 4-0 Argentine Cup victory recently. Like one-time Rangers powerhouse Calvin Bassey, however, the Chilean prefers to play in the centre rather than wide on the flank.
An aggressive, uncompromising defender yet technically capable and blessed with a cannon of a shot – as is typical for South American footballers – Galdames’ versatility would be very well received by a coach in Clement who admires players who are capable of thriving in multiple positions.
Galdames could provide competition for Jefte and Ridvan Yilmaz at full-back, as well as offering further depth in the middle.
Chapini, meanwhile, admits that Godoy Cruz will not stand in Galdames’ way should the club receive an offer which suits all parties down to the ground.
“(Galdames) is the club’s player and must respect his contract,” the president adds. “However, we have never blocked the departure of a player if there is something convenient for both parties.
“Normally, when the representatives are 90 per cent close (to agreeing a deal), they appear with their proposals. So far, there are simple polls. We will wait a few days.”
“If I do get a transfer, it needs to be something that will be good for my career,” Galdames said last week. “That’s what I have been working for since the day I became a footballer. I want to play for my country and then go to the Copa America.
“All I can say is that Godoy Cruz have treated me very well since the day I arrived here. The people at the club have made me feel as if I was one of their own. And that has honestly been very important to me to be able to perform, to be comfortable and happy in the club.
“Until something happens, I remain a Godoy Cruz player.”
