Rangers may expect to pay over £2 million for Cameron Pring with Bristol City set to suffer a ‘massive blow’ if the talented left-back heads north of the border to the Scottish Premiership giants.
Philippe Clement found himself taking in Rangers’ 1-0 friendly defeat to Hertha Berlin from a rather restricted vantage point on Saturday, the manager sent off and forced to watch on from behind a wire fence.
But, in his pursuit of January signings, the Gers boss certainly has a clearer view of things. Additions are needed, he tells the Scottish Sun, and while there is hardly an unlimited pot of funds available, everyone at Ibrox is ‘working hard’ to ensure that Fabio Silva is the first but not the last of their mid-season acquisitions.
Ridvan Yilmaz out, Cameron Pring in at Ibrox?
A left-back is, if not Rangers’ number one target, then certainly high on Clement’s wishlist.
And, after Kai Wagner signed a new deal with Philadelphia Union and Liverpool rejected an approach for Owen Beck, The Sun believes that Rangers could yet turn their attention to Cameron Pring, a graduate of Bristol City’s prosperous and often underrated academy.
“(Losing Pring) would be a huge blow to Bristol City and their manager Liam Manning in their hopes to finish in the (Championship’s) top six,” Carlton Palmer, a former England international, tells Football League World.
“Bristol City would receive a fee in excess of £2 million, in my opinion. Manning could also have that money to re-invest in the team.
“(But) it would be a massive blow for Bristol City, as I said. He’s made the left-back berth his own. He’s played every game this season and he’s been outstanding.
“It’ll be very disappointing for them. But this is football, and I’m sure Manning will be looking for a capable replacement.”
Rangers want a left-back
Pring, who has one goal and two assists from 26 appearances this season, is under contract until 2026 at Ashton Gate.
As such, Bristol City are under no immediate pressure to cash in. Though Rangers should see their transfer funds boosted by the potential sale of Ridvan Yilmaz to Hellas Verona.
“It looks like (Borna) Barisic will be out of contract at the end of the season. Yilmaz was looking like the guy who was going to take over from him, but he has been a little bit in and out,” Alan Hutton, who started his career at the Gers before joining Tottenham Hotspur for a then-record fee of £9 million, tells Sky Sports.
“But (Yilmaz) has had some really good performances the last few games. If he was to go, they have to bring someone in.”
