After a flying start to the transfer window, things have gone a little quiet at Ibrox since Rangers announced the signing of Robin Propper from FC Twente on August 1st.
Despite links with a number of wide forwards and central strikers – Mahamadou Diarra of WSG Tirol and Benfica starlet Tiago Gouveia emerging of late – Philippe Clement has confirmed that Rangers are stuck in the mud for the time being.
Further signings are unlikely to be forthcoming, the Belgian said last week, until Rangers can first shift a few undesirables out the door.
“It’s important for the club to sell players to also get players,” Clement told BBC Sport. “That is the case and some of them have known that a really long time and they are still in the building, so that makes things more difficult. But it is what it is.
“I cannot put a gun on their heads to get them out the building, that is not the idea.
“It’s not something I can control. All the energy is on the players who are here, the players that will be here and to get the next result.”
Ianis Hagi and Todd Cantwell are, of course, the first names that come to mind. Especially with Rapid Bucharest going public with their interest in the former.
Cantwell, meanwhile, handed in a transfer request earlier in the summer. He has been exiled from Clement’s first-team squad as a result.
And, talking about transfer requests, the BBC report that Abu Kamara slapped one of his own down onto Norwich City’s desk. After helping Portsmouth claim the League One title during a loan spell at Fratton Park last term, Kamara is keen on securing a permanent move away from Johannes Hoff Thorup’s side.
Rangers in race for Norwich City winger Abu Kamara
According to Football Scotland, the two-time England Under 20 international is viewed as an affordable option to strengthen Rangers’ options in the wide areas.
While Benfica reportedly want £7 million for Gouveia, Kamara should cost closer to £2 million.
Rangers would still have to shift the likes of Cantwell – once of Norwich himself of course – but Football Scotland say that personal terms will not be an issue Kamara is offered what is likely to be a long-term contract on the blue side of Glasgow.
Kamara, a left footer, has made most of his senior appearances on the right.
With Vaclav Cerny, Scott Wright and Ross McCausland already at Clement’s disposal, the expectation was that Rangers would prioritise a player capable of stepping in on the opposite flank after the departures of Abdallah Sima and Fabio Silva.
Outstanding on loan at Portsmouth last season
21-year-old Kamara is, however, versatile enough to thrive off the left-hand wing.
The Lambeth-born wideman scored 11 goals and set up 10 more during a stellar spell with Pompey, with his adaptability proving very handy to the club’s coaching staff.
“Abs’ form recently has been outstanding,” assistant manager Jon Harley told The News last term. “He’s such a great lad, he wants to learn and is really humble.
‘The way we play, we want to try to isolate him one-v-one because, as a full-back myself, I would hate to play against him. I am sure every full-back would do in that position.
‘He can go outside, he can come inside, and he has an end product now, which, credit to him, is something he’s really been working on. (His ruthlessness) has really improved as the season has progressed.
“Abu has been excellent and outstanding for us.”
