Rangers’ rocky transfer window saw a number of prime targets slip through the net as Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen rebuilt the squad.
It was always going to be part of the process as the Belgian manager and director of recruitment tried to convince bargain players that their futures lied in Glasgow.
Shopping in such markets pretty much guarantees hot competition for potential signings and that was certainly true of one Latin American defender who was given the Ibrox treatment last season.
With a £3.2m swoop to Rangers edging closer, interest from the English Championship killed the move dead, and now the centre-back has revealed that it was a chat with his mum that helped make up his mind!
Jose Cordoba explains Rangers snub
Towering defender Jose Cordoba was one of the most high profile Rangers targets of the summer transfer window.
The Gers had given the 6ft1 23-year-old Panamanian centre-back a tour of Ibrox as he took in the club’s 4-1 win over Kilmarnock at the end of last season.
As Rangers looked to get their summer transfer window off to the perfect start, Cordoba was the name on everyone’s lips at Ibrox.
But with a £3.2m deal for the then Levski Sofia defender close to completion, Championship yo-yo club Norwich City swooped in at the final moment.
Rangers then told friendly media they’d pulled the plug on the Cordoba deal but it’s clear the interest from down south had swayed the centre-back.
Asked about the interest from Rangers on the Talk Norwich City podcast, Jose Cordoba has revealed that it’s always been his dream to play in the Premier League.
The Panamanian international also claims that his mind was made up after a chat with his wife and his mum.
“It was because my dream is to play in the Premier League,” Cordoba said, when directly asked about turning down Rangers for Norwich City.
“Second, because I first think about my family and then me, so I spoke with my mum and my wife and the decision was quick.
“I’m the boss but what I do always is I ask (my mum) and the people around me and then I make my own decision, always.”
Norwich star was set to turn down Italy for Rangers
Norwich City have taken their time introducing Jose Cordoba to their first team, but now the Panamanian is starting to make his mark.
Playing the full 90 minutes in the club’s last two English Championship matches – coincidentally back-to-back wins over Watford and Derby County – Cordoba has his eyes set on Premier League promotion.
The lure of a shot at the English top flight proved too much for Rangers and Jose Cordoba has taken a different path at Carrow Road.
But with a move to Rangers some way down the line, Cordoba was also asked about when he initially heard about Norwich City’s interest in his services.
Claiming that the call came before the start of this summer’s Copa America – which kicked off on 21st June – news of Norwich’s interest Cordoba broke at the end of May.
The centre-back also claims that he had another option on the table from Italy after a successful 30 months in Bulgaria.
“(Norwich’s interest came) before the Copa America but I’m not exactly sure which month,” said Cordoba.
“There was also interest from one club in Italy but the thing is that I like English football and I always decide to play in the UK if I have the chance.
“Then it was a quick decision for me, not so fast, but you have this feeling that you must be there.”
Rangers had to wait until the end of the transfer window to sign a player with a similar profile, Neraysho Kasanwirjo joining the club on loan from Feyenoord.
Kasanwirjo spoke following his full debut against Malmo in Sweden with the versatile Dutch defender already making an impression on Ibrox fans.
