Two very different agreements, two very distinct Rangers stories, and two transfer targets.
While Jeffe Vital took five months to get to Ibrox—Philippe Clement’s team had to wait until the summer for the left-back to arrive as he was on loan at APOEL Nicosia in Cyprus—the club’s third summer window addition has looked exactly like a Rangers player.
The Jefte story continued for half of 2024, but Rangers acted quickly, wisely, and covertly to bring another left-footed defender to Ibrox.
Up until Monday afternoon, when writer Sacha Tavolieri posted on social media that the young AC Milan player was headed to Glasgow, Clinton Nsiala had not even been discussed as a potential target.
Tavolieri reports on X that “Rangers now set to sign AC Milan’s huge talent, Clinton Nsiala.””Personal terms based on a long-term contract have been agreed upon.”
“Medical examinations to occur by the end of this week.”
Rangers set to seal deal for AC Milan’s Clinton Nsiala
Subsequently on the same day, Nsiala, who was barely 20 years old and considered himself somewhat of a signing from the Nils Koppen days, said farewell to the Serie A powerhouses. According to reports, Rangers acquired the talented Frenchman on a free transfer after fending off interest from French and German teams. His deal expires in the summer.
After just one Serie A game, Nsiala writes on Instagram, “It’s time to say goodbye to this team.” “I’m (leaving) after three years of professional and personal growth. a group that helped me grow up, became my family, and raised me as a man.
“A group of people and a coach who never gave up on me.” Ignazio Abate, the coach of Milan’s U19 team, adds, “It is without a doubt because of you people that have always believed in me that I am today.”
“Happy to be sporting the AC Milan shirt.” Thank you for your assistance. I am thankful to AC Milan. The journey continues.
At Rangers, it seems like the journey never ends.
What about Thomas Galdames?
But what does this signal for the club’s pursuit of another defensive southpaw? If you had told Rangers supporters on Sunday that they would be closing in on a deal for a new centre-half 24 hours later, they’d have believed you were talking about Thomas Galdames.
ngers switched their focus to the tough-tackling Godoy Cruz ace after top target Jose Cordoba opted to pursue a £3 million move to Norwich City instead. So why the rapid move for Nsiala? Do Rangers feel that he, five years younger and with a background at one of Europe’s legitimate superclubs, has a better ceiling?
Do Rangers maybe feel that Nsiala is a better natural centre-half option? Galdames, while preferring to play in the midfield, has spent much of his time at Godoy Cruz as a left-back? Or are Rangers instead only placing Galdames on the backburner for now, a deal to be revisited once his contract runs out in December?
With Galdames proving to be a hit at full-back of late, perhaps there is still a chance that he and Nsiala could be team-mates at Ibrox later down the line. Then again, having already brought in Jefte, it seems doubtful that Rangers will attempt to bring in Galdames as a left-back unless Ridvan Yilmaz follows Borna Barisic out the door.
But, despite continuous talk over a return to Turkey, Yilmaz’s representative confirmed this week that there are presently no intentions to seek a Super Lig homecoming.
“Ridvan’s career plan is to continue in Europe,” Necdet Ergezen tells reporter Gokmen Ozcan. “There is no plan to return to the Super League in the near and medium term.”
For now, while Rangers now have some clarity about the identity of their next centre-back acquisition, the waters look a little murker as far as Thomas Galdames’ own Ibrox transition is concerned.
Read more at: https://sportupdates.co.uk
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