Rangers’ loan-to-buy deal for Oscar Cortes hangs in balance as RC Lens are called in after a potentially season-ending injury.
The young Colombian winger, 20, has had a bright start to his Ibrox career with the Gers said to boast an a purchase option on the January loan deal.
But after the winger sustained a muscle injury in the 2-1 victory to Kilmarnock, it now appears up in the air whether or not the kid will complete the Rangers switch in the summer.
RC Lens paid a reported £3.8m to sign Oscar Cortes from Colombian side FC Millionarios in the summer but he struggled to settle in France.
Oscar Cortes picks up “severe” injury
Speaking after Rangers’ shock 2-1 home defeat to Motherwell at the weekend, Philippe Clement refused to put a timescale on what he previously described as a ”severe” injury problem.
Whilst the Rangers manager didn’t make any comment on the player’s transfer situation, the Rangers boss did confirm that RC Lens are involved in any decision making with regards what happens next.
“To give you numbers, we’re first talking with a specialist and together with Lens,” said Clement.
“We are not the one deciding all the things, what should happen with him, because he’s a player of Lens.
“So we are in communication with them to see what are the best people to take a look at the injury.”
To make things worse, Clement accused young Northern Irish winger Ross McCausland of being “kicked off the pitch” in the defeat to Motherwell to add to the club’s mounting problems.
Whilst Rabbi Matondo is expected to return in the coming matches, Kieran Dowell, Todd Cantwell, Abdallah Sima, Alex Lowry, and Danilo are all still sidelined.
Rangers transfer of RC Lens winger up in the air
Only last week were Rangers fans urging the club to complete a permanent deal for Oscar Cortes, now everyone has suddenly pulled the brakes.
Whilst the young Colombian is undoubtedly a major talent a severe injury problem could interrupt any would-be transfer plans and it is a situation Rangers fans will be monitoring closely.
It bears a striking resemblance to the situation of Brighton loanee Abdallah Sima, who was making sounds about a permanent move to Rangers before injury halted his season.
It never rains but it pours at Ibrox when it comes to injury issues but as the club look to put an end to years of misery in this regard, perhaps they’ll be thinking twice about completing a deal for Oscar Cortes.
