Philippe Clement wasn’t fully equipped for the challenges of the Champions League qualifiers with the Rangers boss still having to make do with what he’s got.
The manager is fully aware of the consequences of failing to beat Dynamo Kyiv as he looks to rebuild a squad in desperate need of repair.
With the transfer window closing on the 30th of August, time is fast running out to bring in upgrades and players who can make an immediate difference.
Fabrizio Romano updates Rangers move for Hannibal
One such player is Man Utd’s Hannibal who Rangers were said to be at an “advanced stage” of talks with as the Tunisia international gets set to leave Old Trafford.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Fabrizio Romano has clarified what the latest situation in Nils Koppen’s pursuit of the midfield enforcer:
“There is a concrete chance for him to leave Man United, but nothing close with Rangers yet.
“They like the player, they have tried but there are also other clubs, from what I’m hearing, not only Rangers.
“So, the race is absolutely open.”
With Clement explaining how missing out on the Champions League was going to affect his plans, the chances of Rangers being able to sign a player of Hannibal’s profile seem almost minimal.
Selling players like Todd Cantwell or Ianis Hagi would have helped to free up space on the wage bill and provide some money to invest but, with funds limited, spending big on one player isn’t an option.
Rangers stuck in a rut as Champions League windfall goes begging
Rangers look like they are trying to reset and break the cycle of the past few years.
There needs to be a solid structure from top to bottom with experienced individuals running the football department.
Experiences like the summer of 2023 must become a thing of the past where a manager was allowed almost a blank cheque to sign players who had been in his little black book.
Clement has spoken about his distance from dealing with figures and that his job is to identify gaps in the squad and the profile of player that he wants.
The rest is down to the recruitment team led by Koppen.
The only sizeable fees that have been allocated this summer have been on Mohamed Diomande, Oscar Cortes and Hamza Igamane.
All are young and with the potential to make the club money in the future.
They also aren’t breaking the bank in terms of wages either.
It’s a chicken and an egg situation.
Rangers know that players like Hannibal would help them to qualify for the Champions League, unfortunately, it would take Champions League money to sign him.
