Philippe Clement chases ‘perfect’ Oscar Cortez Rangers transfer in plan to replace Brighton loan star Abdallah Sima

The young Lens winger has already returned to Europe to finalize a move, according to a story published by the paper late on January 29 on their website. The Light Blues are “hopeful” to complete the deal before the deadline, despite claims originating from Colombia that it has already been completed.

The 20-year-old, who only made four Ligue 1 appearances off the bench after moving to France for £4 million from Millonarios, is available just months after that move, but the manager of the Gers has selected Colombia’s top scorer from the South American Youth Championships last year as the perfect addition to his team.

On-loan Brighton attacker Sima is out for up to three months with a thigh problem picked up without seeing a minute’s action for Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations, having scored 15 goals in all competitions so far this term.

Big shoes to fill

It is easy to forget that Sima is still only 22 because he has overcome the difficulties faced by some of his fellow summer newcomers to establish himself as a standout for the Rangers this season.

He hasn’t had any consistency for a while because the Light Blues are the fourth team he has played for in the previous 2.5 seasons—that doesn’t include the Seagulls, for whom he hasn’t yet made an appearance.

So while Cortes may be young and unsettled to be on the move so soon after leaving his home country for France, there is precedent for having a big impact right in front of him.

Clement surely needs to have singled out the right man to fill Sima’s spot if he is going to have any chance of following up the Viaplay Cup victory with any further silverware this season.

It is now up to Cyriel Dessers, who has had a difficult start to life at Rangers but admittedly seems to be rising to the task of being the last man standing at striker, to lead the team to any more glory in the absence of a proven goalscorer arriving before the deadline on February 1st.

While Todd Cantwell and other players can contribute, it appears that Dessers and James Tavernier will have to put up the necessary numbers unless Cortes can show up and quickly follow Sima’s lead. Young players with talent like Ross McCausland and Fabio Silva are also capable of scoring goals, but they are not consistent goal scorers.

Read more on sportupdates.co.uk