8 Rangers presser takeaways as Phillipe Clement rules out January exit and delivers blunt transfer response.
The manager of Ibrox addressed the media prior to tomorrow’s Premiership encounter between Hibs and Easter Road.
While Rangers look to add more players in January, Philippe Clement has disclosed that his phone hasn’t stopped ringing.
Mohamed Diomande, a Nordsjaelland midfielder closing in on a sensational £4.5 million deal, is about to become the Ibrox club’s second winter arrival. Clement refused to comment on individual individuals, as he has done since taking over as manager of the Gers, but he made it plain that he won’t be happy until more fresh faces arrive.
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.
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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