It was all going so well. Rangers started the transfer window signing young, promising players and being linked with others who meet an exciting new profile.
Philippe Clement brought excitement to a virtual halt when he stated that players would need to be sold before any could be bought, and things haven’t really improved since.
Cyriel Dessers, who many expect to leave, has confessed his love for the club and doesn’t want to leave with other reports, such as Scott Wright being linked to Sheffield Wednesday, have turned to dust.
Sam Lammers suitors dropping like flies as Rangers struggle to sell
The one that will frustrate the fans and manager alike is Sam Lammers.
He has been training with the B team at Auchenhowie whilst his teammates were in the Netherlands and played his first 45 minutes of the season against Leeds United’s Under-21 team – he didn’t score.
Utrecht wanted to keep Lammers after his record breaking Eredivisie form in the second half of the season but couldn’t afford his wages.
AZ Alkmaar went out and spent more than the £3m Rangers paid for, and probably would have accepted for Lammers.
Rangers now look to be back at square one with the 27-year old after Twente confirmed that they too won’t be making an offer to sign Lammers.
Dutch journalist Leon ten Voorde was right:
“Of course, this is being discussed at FC Twente”, Ten Voorde said on Voetbalpraat (via Utrechtfans).
“He is also a very interesting player. However, he does cost a lot of money.
“I think that he could be more expensive than Wout Weghorst, also in salary.
“FC Twente cannot afford that.
“FC Utrecht pay, at the top, still more to players than FC Twente.”
It will be little consolation that Twente aren’t signing Weighorst either.
Back to the drawing board for Rangers and Sam Lammers
What more could Rangers have done?
Lammers was struggling, badly, at Rangers but a loan spell saw him rediscover his best form and advertise his abilities on a decent stage.
It seemed like only a matter of time before Rangers were inundated with bids, however, despite being left behind, nothing concrete has ever emerged.
There will never be any idea as to what sort of negotiations have taken place, with what clubs or if Rangers have ever tried to sweeten the deal.
It is beginning to look more and more likely that Philippe Clement is going to have to plan for having both Dessers and Lammers in his squad on a regular basis.
As two of Rangers more saleable assets, given their goal returns last season, you have to wonder why the club finds it so hard to move players who have been deemed surplus to requirements on.
Back to the drawing board for Clement it is.
