Rangers could well explore the Premier League loan market after the club’s failure to reach the Champions League.
The Gers are working on a shoestring budget but still have substantial transfer business to be conducted both in and out of the club before the window slams shut.
If Rangers are serious about mounting a title challenge this campaign then the club’s current squad requires some serious improvement in the upcoming fortnight.
But one of the innumerable talents in Chelsea’s bloated squad will not be coming to Ibrox after strong links earlier in the month.
Rangers end Chelsea kid pursuit
Rangers have utilised the Premier League loan market to great effect in recent seasons.
Ryan Kent, Ovie Ejaria and Sheyi Ojo might’ve had mixed results after moving on loan from Liverpool, but they were signed as first-team options.
The same can be said for the likes Amad Diallo or Abdallah Sima, who joined from Manchester United and Brighton respectively.
But one player who had been linked with Rangers this summer in Chelsea midfielder Leo Castledine is no longer considered a Gers target.
Reports had spread claiming Rangers wanted to sign Castledine on a loan-to-buy from Chelsea with the Stamford Bridge club hoping to sanction a temporary deal only.
Now, Football Scotland have described the potential deal for the 19-year-old as ‘dead in the water’ with Rangers presumably moving on to other targets.
Leo Castledine is a highly-rated England youth international and made his debut for Chelsea in the EFL Cup last season.
Clement: Rangers need to clear wages
No matter what way you try and butter it up, this has been a very disappointing summer to date for Rangers.
Whilst the window will be judged in its entirety come September 1st, so far Rangers look to have actually gone backwards from last season.
Philippe Clement has been grilled on the situation heading into this weekend’s Premier Sports Cup clash with St Johnstone at Hampden.
In the first part of the press conference, Clement gave a bleak transfer update suggesting that players against whom he could not ‘hold a gun to their head’ would need to move on before any incomings.
Expanding on this in the second half of the conference, Clement is clear Rangers need to lower the wage bill and fast.
“I just want to say, okay, it’s clear for everybody that some players want to go,” said Clement.
“That some players clearly said, been said to months ago before the pre-season started that they would not be part of the project because of circumstances like wages.
“We need to lower the amount of wages. It was too expensive last season for the club. So that’s also one part of the story. So they know, but they’re still here. I cannot do more about that.”
Perhaps more ominously, Clement was in no mood to talk up potential business before the window closes.
Suggesting that as things stand the entire thing is up in the air, the Rangers manager insists he cannot see into the future.
“We will see,” said Clement. “Everybody’s working two weeks really hard to do the right things. I don’t have a crystal ball. I wish I had, but I don’t.”
