8 Rangers presser takeaways: Clement rules out exit & gives blunt transfer
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8 Rangers presser takeaways: Clement rules out exit & gives blunt transfer reply
Philippe Clement has revealed his phone hasn’t stopped ringing as Rangers chase further January signings.
Mohamed Diomande is on the verge of becoming the Ibrox club’s second winter arrival as the Nordsjaelland midfielder closes in
on a bumper £4.5million move. As has been the case since the day he was appointed Gers manager, Clement wouldn’t be drawn on
specific players but made it clear he won’t be satisfied unless more new faces walk through the door.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Hibs, Clement delivered an injury update and confirmed that Abdallah Sima faces a long
spell on the sidelines. The futures of Alex Lowry and Robby McCrorie were also discussed and here, Football Scotland examines
the eight key takeaways from today’s presser.
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Transfers
“Oh, that question again! Yeah, what I said last time. What is close and what is far? The first second someone is in this building
and has signed a contract, I will tell all of you. The rest, it’s talk. You never know how close you are or how far you are. Everybody is
working really hard and I think there are things that are interesting that are possible but we will see in the end.”
Asked specifically about Mohamed Diomande, he said: “I don’t speak about any rumours because there have been 50 names
already in the last couple of weeks. If you start to talk about one rumour you need to talk about the other rumour and then I am
only busy with that. So I never do that, that’s the best way.”
Abdallah Sima injury
“No, not yet. It’s not that I want to keep things away from you guys. I expect more news today, latest tomorrow, from my medical
staff. I always listen to them and not other people. Ask me this question after the game and then I’ll have the information. Let’s say
99 per cent sure. It will be long-term.
“Like I always said, I want to look at the glass half full. The team and the squad have proven that they always stand up when
something happens and other players do the job. There were really, really positive surprises in that way so we’re going to find other
solutions and other surprises.”
Asked about other injury news, Clement continued: “Ben is still not available. I have no timescale for the moment. It’s short-term.
Kieran Dowell had his operation and everything went well, so that’s positive. Kemar and Danilo are still out.”
New striker to replace Danilo?
“It’s the same as the first question. I’m not speaking about positions or what we want. There are also strikers in the building. Fabio
has shown good things, Cyriel if you look at the statistics, he’s in a good way also. We’ll see what targets we will take in the transfer
market and what the possibilities are.”
Content if he doesn’t add to the squad?
“No, because that was not the idea of the club so I’m confident that we will do the things that we are all aligned on. ”
Alex Lowry’s future
“No, I didn’t bring him back. Hearts said they didn’t want to keep him for the next six months. The clear plan with Alex is that we
want him to go on loan again to get minutes. In the squad that there is now, it’s going to be difficult for him to get minutes. There
was a clear plan for one year for him to get experience and become stronger, come back in a good way and make a good assessment
in the summer. That’s what we’re trying to do now. We’ll see what teams are interested and what is the best place for him to go in
the way we want to play football and the way he can develop in the best way.
“It’s been really busy so if I get a message or a call, my wife already knows who it is. But it’s good that it’s Nils and not somebody
else, so that’s a positive thing. It’s been good, he’s super determined, hard working day and night together with all his team. It’s the
same as me; I’m always the spokesman about everything but I don’t do everything myself in this building. I have great staff doing a
lot of things with me. It’s the same with Nils, he’s happy with the scouts and analysts and we are discussing all the developments
between us but always together with the board. With Creag, James, the chairman, the other members of the board, the investors…
everybody together. But there’s a lot of contact and that’s what I like. I like to be involved, to know everything that’s going on,
positive or difficult and why, so I like to have all the information.”
January budget
“You know already that I’m never going to respond to that question. It’s clear that we have these discussions with the board and
investors. When we come with names and we make decisions around that. Everybody is ambitious to let the team grow and make
the team better and make the right transfers. Is it short-term to help the team in the next six months? Is it long-term for players to
come in and have an impact but can grow also and are part of the club that you can sell afterwards? There are always a lot of things
to take into account and we discuss all of these things. That’s why there are always short nights in January!”
Robby McCrorie’s future
“Will he be the Scottish Cup goalkeeper? It depends on his performances and what he’s doing in training. Then we will make
decisions on what is best for the group and club. No, we won’t be sending him on loan. How can you send a player on loan with
nine days to go if you don’t have another goalkeeper? It was never the plan. It was clearly discussed with Robby before the winter
break so he will be here and he did god things. I gave him the chance to play this game, I don’t have to do that, and also the games
against Hertha and Copenhagen. So he is ready and we will go on like that for the next six months and then we can make the new
evaluation. But he’s going to be here until the end of the season for sure.”
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