Rangers star who has been called the “next Calvin Bassey” has joined an English club “on trial,” and a deal is nearly done

The young player from Ibrox is likely to go on loan to an English League One club after trying out for them.

Johnly Yfeko, a young player for Rangers, is going to work with Gary Caldwell, a former Celtic and Scotland star, at Exeter City. He did a trial with the team this week while they were on their pre-season tour of Cornwall.

The versatile 21-year-old goalkeeper has been training with the English League One team during pre-season. There have been rumours online that he will move to the Devon club on loan for the next season to get more experience playing regular first-team football, since he was one of the best players in the Ibrox B-team.

Under new manager Philippe Clement, Yfeko has had a hard time getting game time. The last time he played for the main team was in August of last year in a Scottish League Cup match against Greenock Morton, which was managed by Michael Beale. During a midseason friendly with FC Copenhagen in Denmark at Ibrox in January, he got to play, but he hasn’t been in any first-team practices this summer.

After a fan shared a picture that seemed to show the left-sided defender training with Caldwell’s team, a source at Exeter City confirmed that the Londoner will be joining the Grecians for the new season. The Londoner started out as a youth player for Tottenham Hotspur before moving to Leicester City and playing well for their Under-18 and Under-21 teams.

Yfeko was let go by the Foxes in the summer of 2021. Six months later, after doing well on trial, he moved north to join Rangers.He just signed a new three-year deal that will keep him in Glasgow until 2026. He did this by giving former Gers boss Beale “something to think about” after catching his eye in training.

It has already been said that the 21-year-old is like Calvin Bassey, a former Light Blues star who did the same thing 18 months before Yfeko. Within two years, he became famous overnight and moved to Dutch powerhouses Ajax for a club record £20 million. The young player has some of the same skills as Bassey, and the Gers coaching staff still really likes him. At this point in his career, a loan move is likely to help him grow.

Rangers have placed Lawrence Shankland on their transfer wanted list while Philippe Clement considers moving to test Hearts’ resolve

Shankland failed to launch the January effort, but he is still wanted at Ibrox.

This summer, Rangers might yet put Hearts’ determination to hang onto captain Lawrence Shankland to the test.

Shankland’s name is reportedly back on the Ibrox desired list despite manager Philippe Clement’s earlier decision to forego making a deal for the striker during the January transfer window, according to Record Sport. After missing out on the league championship and automatic qualification for the Champions League this season with Cyriel Dessers spearheading his assault, the Belgian seems to have reversed course on that stance.

And before the new campaign begins, he might hit the trigger on an official bid—but only if he can garner enough money from player sales to cover the books. Even though the 28-year-old is nearing the end of his current deal and will become a free agent in the New Year, it’s expected that the Tynecastle club will demand top pay. Therefore, Clement might need to come up with up to £3 million to get them to cash in on their top scorer.

Rangers captain James Tavernier and vice captain Connor Goldson may be the first high earners to go in order to create room for the plethora of possible new hires that Clement and director of recruitment Nils Koppen have identified.Turkish team Trabzonspor is interested in Tavernier; they have already had one deal rejected and are anticipated to come back to the table soon with a better offer. The full-back has also long been a target for former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard, who has discussed organising a raid on his former team with his Saudi superiors at Al-Ettifaq.

Although Goldson’s name is rumoured to be on Gerrard’s list of possible additions, Cyprus team Aris Limassol is showing a lot of interest in the centre defender. The Englishman has also been linked to Birmingham City, but if he decides to sign with the Championship team, he will reportedly have to accept a 50% pay cut.

Big cannons from Italy Fiorentina has been informed that a bid of approximately £3 million is required to sign misfit Ianis Hagi, who is not in Clement’s plans despite making an impression for Romania in Germany during the European Championship. Additionally, Dutchman Sam Lammers has rejected several offers from his home country, such as Utrecht, who were willing to pay Rangers’ £2.7 million asking price but were unable to come close to matching the 27-year-old’s Ibox salary.

Before making a firm financial offer for Shankland, Clement will need to go with at least one of these assets, but the Rangers manager might try to sweeten the pot by including a player in addition to cash in a transaction involving a member of his current first team roster.

Pundit say it will be a “great signing” for the Rangers to get a fast, bold star player who is available right now

Derek Ferguson says that if the chance comes up, Scott McKenna would be a great addition to Rangers’ team this summer.

The playmaker who used to play at Ibrox is a big fan of the Scotland international and the way he plays. He has been watching him play for many years and would love to see him join Philippe Clement’s team.

This summer, McKenna, who is 27 years old, left Nottingham Forest. When Motherwell’s Stephen O’Donnell became available, the Light Blues were quickly linked with him [Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, 10 June].

The Light Blues are now looking to add some experienced players after getting a lot of young players, and Ferguson fully backs their efforts to sign the free agent.

To Ibrox News, he said, “If we get the chance to get McKenna through the door, that would be a no-brainer for me.”

“I’ve watched him play over the years, and he’s played away with Scotland.”

“I love seeing things from the back.” I love it when guys in the back are aggressive.

“He’s not the best football player in the world, but he has great speed that helps him get out of trouble sometimes.”

“Yes, he’d be a great player for Rangers to sign if they could do that.”

Connor Goldson has been linked with a Rangers exit this summer and would need to be replaced

Philippe Clement could take over for Connor Goldson at Rangers.

Clement has already made some moves at centre back this summer, but neither Leon Balogun’s one-year contract deal nor the free transfer of youngster Clinton Nsiala from AC Milan are likely to be the game-changer that is needed right away.

Many years ago, Connor Goldson was a key player at the back for Rangers. But his play dropped off a lot last season, and he has been linked with moves to Al-Ettifaq [Daily Record, 24 April] and Birmingham City [Scottish Sun, 30 June].

It would be great if the Gers could get a deal for the Englishman and replace him with McKenna. However, he probably won’t be available for long, so the Gers may need to find other players first.

Casemiro’s four-word reaction to Manchester United’s win over Rangers at Murrayfield

Rangers outcast Sam Lammers declined a move to NEC Nijmegen, according to The Scottish Sun.

The newspaper said on its website [21 July] that, despite manager Rogier Meijer’s interest in the Dutch striker this summer, Lammers has decided not to leave Ibrox for the Eredivisie club.

Lammers was expected to be one of the first players to go after his remarkable six-month loan spell with FC Utrecht, but he has decided to stay put for the time being.

Sam Lammers rejects an Ibrox escape as Rangers transfer discussions emerge.

After failing to strike the ground running at Ibrox, scoring only twice in 31 appearances, he elected to spend the second part of the season on loan in the Netherlands.

He scored 11 goals in 20 games, attracting interest from a number of clubs, including Nijmegen, who are certainly interested in signing him this summer.

According to the Daily Record, Utrecht are willing to match the Gers’ £2.7 million asking price for the 27-year-old, but his salary is a concern.

Lammers has a chance to stay in Scotland and compete for a spot in the team, despite continued doubts over Cyriel Dessers’ availability.

With Danilo out for much of last season, the Nigerian striker was Clement’s only viable option at Ibrox, and he continued to disappoint with his all-round performance.

Clement hoped that bringing Fabio Silva on loan from Wolves would relieve some of Dessers’ goalscoring strain, but despite scoring over 20 goals in his first season, fans remain sceptical.

It will be an intriguing tale to follow this summer to see if Lammers is looking for a better offer elsewhere or if he is willing to stay at Ibrox and battle for his club.

Fantastic’ attacker who wants to come to Scotland is being pursued by Rangers, and they are willing to pay more than £7 million for him

According to the Daily Record, Rangers have made a proposal of more than £7 million in an attempt to capture attacker Morgan Whittaker of Plymouth Argyle.

On July 19, the news outlet said that the Championship club had rejected Gers’ first offer for the 23-year-old right winger.

Although Ibrox has been considering the Englishman for some time, manager Wayne Rooney wants to keep him at the team and is aware that he wants to move to Scotland.

Rangers finally shown ambition after Philippe Clement’s concerns about the future surfaced.

The Gers’ offer for Whittaker shows a great deal of ambition and a readiness to make team investments.

This action takes place in the midst of uncertainty surrounding Philippe Clement’s future. The Belgian has already voiced worries about the club’s financial status and the money available for transfers, and Kris Boyd even expressed anxiety that he would depart.

Contrary to Clement’s previous remarks, the bid of over £7 million for the 23-year-old indicates that the club is willing to make financial investments in order to develop the team.

Whittaker has been a long-term objective for the Ibrox team and has previously been praised for his skills. He scored 19 goals and contributed eight assists for Plymouth Argyle in the Championship last season.

When he was at Swansea and scored a hat-trick against Plymouth, the manager Russell Martin commented, “I thought he was fantastic.” He has plenty at his disposal.

He is a long-term aim, and his acquisition to the team would give the offensive unit much-needed talent and depth.

The 23-year-old would surely be a regular starter due to his quickness and ability to consistently threaten goals.

Additionally, his signing would make it clear to the league’s other teams and spectators that the Geeks are serious about contending for championships.

‘Time for change’: David Edgar blasts Rangers board in new CEO’s admission

David Edgar has slammed the Rangers board after recent revelations, acknowledging that it is “time for change” at Ibrox.

The Gers board has faced criticism this summer for delays in Ibrox renovation as well as a lack of transfer movement in and out of Philippe Clement’s side during the transfer window.

The Light Blues have yet to name a new CEO after James Bisgrove’s surprising departure. Heart and Hand broadcaster Edgar says the current structure at Rangers “hasn’t worked”.

On Thursday (18 July), he wrote on X that a board of directors should not be involved in the day-to-day operations of any corporation. Appoint a CEO, then stand aside and allow them to run the show while keeping an eye on things.

“If they fail to hit the agreed-upon targets, fire them and move on. We’ve had a ‘too many cooks’ situation at Ibrox for far too long, and it’s not working. “It’s time for change.”

Are Rangers close to making any new additions during the summer transfer window?

Supporters have every reason to be frustrated with the Rangers board at this time, since those in authority have promised far more than they are capable of delivering.

This summer, Clement and his recruiting staff were intended to rebuild the playing squad, but just one player has been moved for a transfer fee, second-choice goalie Robby McCrorie.

Several players, including James Tavernier, Todd Cantwell, Sam Lammers, and Cyriel Dessers, have been associated with leaving Glasgow, but have yet to make a move.

A board at a business – any business – shouldn’t be involved in day-to-day running of it. Appoint a CEO, stand back and let them run it and keep overview of it.

If they don’t hit agreed targets, fire them and move on.

We’ve had a ‘too many cooks’ situation at Ibrox for too long…

— Heart & Hand Podcast (@ibroxrocks) July 18, 2024

Furthermore, the lack of communication from the club’s top management on the delays at Ibrox and then the interim relocation to Hampden Park has been amateurish at best.

Rangers need to step up their game if they truly want to close the gap on the pitch with Celtic, since their recent acts have been amateurish.

Ibrox View: Koppen has to sign striker linked to Rangers ASAP following goal v Tottenham

 

Following the outstanding performance of the forward in a pre-season game against Tottenham, Rangers’ director of football recruitment Nils Koppen has a wonderful opportunity to bring Lawrence Shankland to Ibrox and should act fast.

Shankland proved his mettle on Wednesday, July 17, in the friendly against Spurs by scoring for Hearts in a game Tynecastle lost 5-1.

Following a defensive error by Tottenham’s team, Shankland got the ball in the box before turning swiftly and coolly placing it into the bottom corner of the net.

The Gers need this kind of goalscoring capacity exactly to challenge Celtic for the championship next season.

Rangers attached to Lawrence Shankland

Rangers are eager to return after Shankland once more [GIVEMESPORT, 17 May] with Philippe Clement scheduled to bolster the squad to Premiership success.

Losing to Celtic, who just won their third consecutive championship, has motivated everyone at the Gers to keep becoming better.

With thirty goals and eight assists, Shankland has had an incredible season.

Clement might be short in forwards with Kemar Roofe’s contract ending and Fabio Silva returning to Wolves, so Shankland becomes even more crucial.

Goal: Lawrence Shankland | Hearts 1-1 Tottenhampic.twitter.com/okGhY5jiXN

— PushGoals (@PushGoals) July 17, 2024

Although Shankland only has one year left on his contract, GiveMeSport’s report indicates Hearts value him at £5 million, which would seem a lot. Nevertheless, his goalscoring might be very important for Rangers.

Rangers should try once more even though they struggled to sign him earlier. Shankland’s abilities might be the secret to surpassing Celtic and claiming the championship.

Koppen should hence act right now. Shankland’s latest performance against Tottenham demonstrates his capability. Rangers should sign him at this ideal moment and bring his skill to Ibrox.

After the winger deal, Koppen may have more opportunities thanks to the Gers’ unique transfer “relationship”

There has been a refreshingly new attitude to the Rangers transfer market, with names from all over the world being mooted as potential targets.

Philippe Clement has also discussed Nils Koppen’s new hiring strategy, and the management is expecting to sign more players like Mohamed Diomande.

Oscar Cortes, a 20-year-old Colombian who made an impression during his early appearances before an injury terminated his season with the Rangers, is one “new” addition who will be a welcome sight once he is completely up to speed.

 

Oscar Cortes’ move to the Rangers may only be the beginning.

Cortes was a star of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup just last summer, and he has now been confirmed as a permanent deal, albeit with a one-year loan first.

Given that Koppen now frequently attends the TransferRoom briefings, it has been explained how the Rangers were able to sign such a gifted young player.

Agents and club representatives gather at these events to talk about potential players and possible deal structures.

Tomas Sarmiento, an agent for Cortes, gave TransferRoom an explanation of why the platform is so crucial for hiring managers.

Many individuals, I would say, are hesitant to bring Latin American players to the European market because they haven’t been proven at what you would consider to be the upper echelons of the game.

Through these portals, we are able to speak with those in positions of authority and discuss in greater depth any uncertainties they may have and how best to address them.

“TransferRoom gave us the ability to set up meetings, exchanges, and all of this.

Oscar Cortes will stay with the Rangers after a good agreement was reached. It’s a club that has done a great deal to help him grow and adjust to life in Europe.

“I believe he’s headed in the right direction, and hopefully, with all the support TransferRoom offered, we can build on this relationship and open up new markets.”

How @RangersFC signed Óscar Cortés ✍️

🤝 Agent-club connection made at a #TransferRoomSummit
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scottish side the right fit for South American talents

The Colombian winger’s agency, Top Athlete Management, explains how the January loan, made again this summer, was possible.… pic.twitter.com/K2hHlnSzUZ

— TransferRoom (@transferroom) July 15, 2024

The Rangers’ partnership with the Cortes agency may be beneficial.

It can only be advantageous to have a positive working connection with a company such as Top Athlete Management.

A player trade model that works must capture players before they make their “big” move.

For Rangers, South America is a mostly unexplored market that may also be inexpensive if players are acquired at the appropriate time.

Oscar Cortes has only showed hints of his potential thus far, so supporters will be eager to see what he can do now that he has completed the preseason and is healthy. At £4 million, he will be expected to deliver.

When TransferRoom hosts another event in a few weeks, hopefully Koppen will find someone similar for the other wing.

Based on latest Rangers’ update, Copa America standout gets nearer to summer transfer

Among the players connected to Rangers from Latin America recently is Thomas Galdames.

Following the breakdown of the Jose Cordoba deal, 25-year-old Chileno defender from Ibrox was highlighted as a transfer target for initially unidentified Belgian teams.

In recent seasons, there has been an effort to develop the athletic 6ft Chilean into an aggressive left-back alternative; he is a natural center-back.

As Thomas Galdames gets ready to depart Godoy Cruz, there is a lot of gossip about him.

Following Chile’s exit from the Copa America, Galdames is prepared to make his next decision after the conversation about the player’s future stopped by the tournament.

Now a Belgian newspaper has been offering an update on Ranger’s interest in the defender and what is most likely to happen next.

Galdames closing in on a move.

Back in June, it was reported that Royal Antwerp, a Belgian team, is closely monitoring Thomas Galdames this summer.

According to the research, Rangers and the Pro League team were scheduled to fight for the defender’s signature in this transfer season.

Voetbal Nieuws have been offering a fresh report on the linkages, and shockingly, it seems that Royal Antwerp, not Rangers, is the destination, which is edging closer.

After negotiating a contract for Argentine left-sided Independiente defender Ayrton Costa, Antwerp is now said to be closing in on a double South American swoop.

With the Great Old looking to improve the left-back area of their team ahead of the new season, the circumstances involving Chilean center-back Thomas Galdames is a little more complicated.

Rangers’ interest in Galdames allegedly “cooled” with Antwerp in pole position to seize “advantage” from the circumstances.

Voetbal Nieuws estimates a deal to bring Galdames to Belgium is currently very much in the “pipeline,” even with Rangers perhaps absent from the scene.

Summer of left-back instability for Rangers

Although Thomas Galdames has a good profile, Rangers already want to have moved elsewhere.

After Borna Barisic left for Trabzonspor, the club brought Brazilian left-back Jefte to their ranks this summer.

Turkish variantRidvan Yilmaz is also expected to remain at Rangers next season despite connections to recently promoted Bundesliga team St Pauli.

Along with the defender enticed to move from AC Milan with the lure of first-team play, Rangers have included gifted left-sided centre-back Clinton Nsiala, 20, to their roster.

Another choice in the post and on a reasonable salary is Ben Davies, who has clearly been advised to leave the club.

Rangers are therefore at least well-stocked on the left-side of defence, and Thomas Galdames would have fierce competition to break through into the lineup.

Simultaneously, perhaps the club would rue a missed opportunity to acquire the Chilean if the defender moves to Antwerp and Rangers experiences more turbulence in this area of the team.

Rangers are in the middle of a power struggle, as Hotline punters can tell. Bennett and Clement have different ideas about one thing

Anthony Evans took your calls while some Hotline bettors were happy about England’s painful loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.

Even though Scotland’s Euro 2024 bid didn’t go as planned, a lot of people in the country were in the mood to party on Sunday night after seeing England lose again on the big stage.

Spain beat England 2-1, which was a fair result. Mikel Oyarzabal scored the game-winning goal four minutes from time, after Cole Palmer had cancelled out Nico Williams’ opening goal. It was England’s second straight loss in a European Championship final under Gareth Southgate, and people on the hotline wanted to pick on the unhappy team.

Someone from Rothesay named Jim McClean said, “It’s coming home. Sorry, England is coming home.” They got what they earned for how they played defence, thank God, Sir Gareth Southgate.Someone in London named Alfie Mullin agreed and said, “Well done, Spain.” “Hopefully that will shut up the cocky England fans until at least the next tournament,” said Wullie Graham from Bristol. “England’s cocky arrogance comes back to bite them once more,” he added. They still have tears on their faces from sadness, but Messrs. Lineker and Shearer are telling us they will win the next World Cup.

“Their problem is that they have good players but not a good team.” Spain deserved to win because they were so fun to watch the whole time. It would have been over before halftime for Spain if Pedri and Gavi had been available.

But some people who called the Hotline were surprised by how happy Scotland was about what happened in Berlin. In Newtonhill, Gary Stevenson said, “To all the Scots who tried to ruin the Euros Final, how embarrassing! Some of you even refused to watch it.” What do you think? Will they keep that ban in place and not watch the English Premiership? People thought Scotland was the worst team in the competition, which was an embarrassment. Be polite and don’t make them feel even worse by being rude.

The people of Scotland have kids who wear Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United, and Manchester City shirts. I don’t get why the so-called Scotland fans hate everything English. They can’t wait for the next Super Sunday to watch the English Premier League. I could be wrong, and thousands of Scots will cancel their contracts. England and then going home to watch them every week! That’s so embarrassing.”

On Sunday, however, Scotland had a real reason to celebrate: Bob MacIntyre, a golfer from Oban, beat Adam Scott to win the Scottish Open with a stunning showing in North Berwick. For some Hotline callers, this was the perfect end to a dream weekend.

While William Hutchison in Aberdeen said, “Seems England have a different view of ‘IT’S COMING HOME’….WELL DONE TO SCOTS (YUP SCOTS) Bob MacIntyre for lifting the golf tournament trophy at TROON…” Scott Gowers in Edinburgh said, “Congratulations to Spain (Euro’s) and Robert McIntyre (Scottish Open) for their well-deserved wins over the weekend.”

Bob MacIntyre holds aloft the trophy

People were also talking about the ongoing mess at Rangers over the availability of Ibrox. One fan demanded that the club be put up for sale right away.Stephen Johnstone of Ardentinny said, “The mess at Ibrox Stadium: players’ contracts are being looked at, the board is split up, and the manager is going on and on.” Now that this government is in charge, is it time to sell the whole club before the bailiffs show up? It was thrown to the ground. Sir John Lawrence would be very angry.

Northampton’s Michael Emonds has also doubts about Philippe Clement’s claim that every player will be sold for the right price as Gers manager. “Could there be a power struggle at Ibrox?” he asked. Big Phil says that every player has a price, and he thinks that custodian Jack Butland is worth £30 million.

“I wonder what chairman John Bennett would do if, say, a £10 million offer came in for Butland. Could we see the chairman going against the group?” I believe Big Phil’s comments about the goalie and the broken vows he made in his job interview about having money to buy players are the first steps of him “working his ticket.”

But Fraserburgh’s Andrew Lamb then pushed back against the bad press about the Belgian boss. He said, “I’m disappointed by all the bad news about Rangers, but it’s all coming from spoiled brats who are so negative.” We won’t be able to judge Clement until after at least a full season.

Rangers to accepts £2m offer – Ibrox Sources

Sam Lammers “doesn’t figure” in the upcoming season’s plans for the Rangers.

Pete O’Rourke, a senior writer for Football Insider, expressed this opinion regarding Lammers’ future at Ibrox Stadium in an interview with the podcast Inside Track.

The 27-year-old was cut by Philippe Clement during the preseason and was sent to the Rangers B club this summer.

It’s an indication of the manager of the Gers’ perspective on the forward, leaving him uncertain about his future in the game.

Although a permanent agreement between the two clubs could not be reached, Lammers spent the second half of the previous season on loan at Utrecht.

The Scottish team is now hoping to make money off of the Dutch forward this summer as Clement has decided not to keep him in the lineup going forward.

Rangers will likely incur losses due to Sam Lammers.

Rangers paid £3.5 million to acquire Lammers from Atalanta at first, but sources claim they won’t recoup their investment.

Rather, the Gers will cut Lammers loose from the books this summer for a cost of £2 million.

The attacker demonstrated his abilities last season while playing for Utrecht, tallying 10 goals and dishing out three assists.

After those Eredivisie performances, sources say Holland would be interested in him, but the player’s future is still unknown.

But with everything going on at Ibrox Stadium, these are equally unsettling times for Rangers as a team.

According to Football Insider, the Gers will now open the season at Hampden Park because their home pitch is still under construction after delays in shipments.

Chris Jack provides an update on Diomande’s injury, following Rangers’ preseason matchup with Standard Liege

Chris Jack reports that Mohamed Diomande, a midfielder for Rangers, is “fine” and has resumed training despite initial concerns that he may have injured himself.

On Wednesday, July 10, the 22-year-old played the first half of the Light Blues’ preseason match against Standard Liege. After going down, he received some treatment, which raised some eyebrows.

Jack, a journalist for Rangers Review, is adamant that the midfield player is injury-free and that he was able to go through the rehabilitation process and do interviews without any more problems.

On July 11, at 19:30, he made the following statement on The Rangers Review YouTube channel: “The only injury doubt or concern, I spoke to Joshua about yesterday, was Mohamed Diomande.”

“I brought up the fact that he left the game and was able to walk back to the dressing room after receiving some treatment late in the first half.

He appeared fine when he chatted with a few members of the press earlier for an interview that would be released during the upcoming games. Thankfully, there aren’t any major worries there as he trained and completed the recovery session earlier.

Do Rangers have any plans to make any additions during the summer transfer window?

The fact that one of their more recent arrivals won’t be missing a significant portion of preseason due to injury is at least encouraging news, even though supporters will be unhappy by the dearth of transfer activity surrounding Ibrox at this time.

Diomande made an impression on both fans and analysts during the previous season after moving to Glasgow in January, and now that he has decided to make Scotland his permanent home, there will be expectations that he can continue to improve and achieve new heights.

To receive all of our unique content and the newest transfer news first, subscribe to the Ibrox News WhatsApp channel.

The 23-year-old will need to play a lot of football over the coming months because only Connor Barron has arrived as a replacement in midfield after the departures of Ryan Jack and John Lundstram were confirmed earlier this summer.

With any luck, he can avoid injuries and build on his strong start to the previous campaign to truly take off under Philippe Clement.

Still, he and the supporters will be hoping the Gers add one or two more players to help him.

Kieran Dowell lets out his fury with the Rangers as the midfielder gives a brutally honest assessment of his first Ibrox season

After moving to Govan last summer, Dowell had an injury-plagued campaign and found it difficult to give the Ibrox supporters his all.

The first to acknowledge that the Ibrox supporters didn’t see their greatest side last season was Kieran Dowell. primarily because they hardly ever saw him.

The former playmaker for Norwich was supposed to play a major role in Michael Beale’s plan for a Rangers comeback last summer. Instead, a string of ailments derailed his Glasgow debut campaign, and he barely made it onto the supporting cast in Govan. Throughout a season tinged with frustration, he managed just six starts and ten substitute appearances overall.

There were times when it appeared he was going to make the kind of impact Beale had in mind when he brought the former Carrow Road apprentice north. A goal on Christmas Eve against Motherwell turned out to be the ideal present as new manager Philippe Clement battled a horrific injury list.

He helped the Gers come back from a two-goal deficit in April’s 3-3 Old Firm draw at Ibrox, and his performance off the bench was critical in turning that derby thriller around. However, all of those events turned out to be brief high points in a season that culminated in Celtic defeating Celtic in both the league and the Scottish Cup.

Now, as the Rangers prepare for the upcoming season, Dowell hopes to leave a more profound imprint on the fan base. After Standard Liege’s preseason bounce game, he stated, “I’d like to think there is more to come from me.”

“Last season, I didn’t start many games. It was, I believe, four or five games. Additionally, not many people appeared. They haven’t seen my finest side. In actuality, they haven’t seen much of me.

“Perhaps they succeed in the upcoming season. It was just so frustrating, my first year. Really annoying. Being a central midfielder, a position I hadn’t really played before, I was obviously learning a new one. That was because of things like availability, but it was really annoying that injuries occurred in between.

However, I feel better now. I feel rejuvenated, having rested well over the summer, and I’m in peak physical condition right now. I recall beating Motherwell, things were going great, and then I took another hit. That’s football for you, though, is how it happened.

You may pout all you want about it, but it happened, and now that it’s over, I feel strong once more. What can I rely on during those times? Everybody in the club. These guys are excellent at keeping you in your place. They will either put you down if you’re getting ahead of yourself or encourage you to keep going if you’re not. That set of guys is excellent for that. Of course, my friends and family also provided a lot of assistance.

After that thrilling match, Dowell left the ground with Celtic thinking he had saved the Green Bay Packers from a jail sentence. His club had trailed the team led by Brendan Rodgers by two goals on both occasions before rallying behind goals from Abdullah Sima and a Rabbi Matondo scream.

The next week, he was rewarded for his efforts with an unusual start at Ross County. However, the Dingwall loss had far-reaching effects beyond Rangers’ hopes of winning the league.

Rangers’ Kieran Dowell scores against Livingstom (Image: PA)

“It was clearly a difficult day for every player on the pitch,” he remarked. Although I started the game, I don’t believe anyone else played particularly well that day. That causes you to suffer in the end, but that’s the nature of football. The only thing left to do after being kicked off the team is to continue training and working hard.

The depressing atmosphere that pervaded Ibrox at the close of the previous season has hardly subsided, and new controversy has arisen after it was revealed Clement’s team may need to leave Ibrox for several weeks due to a building error on the Copland Road.

All of that has increased the pressure on the Light Blues as they attempt to strike a balance between their two very important goals—qualifying for the Champions League and getting a head start in the Premiership. Even though Dowell has only been in Glasgow for a year, it’s enough time to realise that if either of those goals is compromised, there will be a massive meltdown. However, he has also learnt from the previous season how crucial it is to avoid exaggerating a small setback.

The most important lesson, he continued, is to understand that we are never truly done. Everyone believes it’s finished after our disappointing start to the season and the departure of the manager who signed me. It appears to be finished when you see the Press, but it wasn’t.

By season’s end, it was back in our possession. As a result, you never know when to give up. Should we aim for a quicker start this season?

“Ideally no, but even in that case, you’re still in it. In my first season, I guess I thought we were done, but we weren’t. Of course you want to get off to a quick start, but the season is lengthy.

Dowell checked in last summer as one of nine new additions. Clement is making sure he assists the summer recruits in settling in. He has added five this time so far, but more are planned.

“I always try to welcome the new lads,” he remarked. It’s a fantastic organisation for that kind of activity, I believe. Many boys have recently joined, and it’s encouraging to see everyone putting in a lot of effort on the pitch.

“After taking a quick break and cleaning up, the guys are back on track and ready to go after it. For this club, every season is undoubtedly crucial, but maybe we can succeed.

Even though Clement wasn’t the one who signed him, Dowell is content with the tight relationship he has with his Belgian manager right now. Regarding the positive indicators he observes in his relationship with Clement, he remarked, “I believe it is the quantity of times he uses me.

“He is an excellent trainer who provides you with a lot of assistance. I’ve learned a lot from him about assuming new positions as a centre midfielder. I’m glad he’s already added a couple strings to my bow. He pushes you to try new things and wants you to play. He’s an effective manager.

£3.5 million release clause surfaces as Rangers in advanced negotiations for a new acquisition claims

To surpass Fenerbahce to his signature, Rangers will have to pay Adama Traore’s £3.5 million release clause, according to AfricaFoot.

Writing on their website (7 July), the news source notes that the Mali winger has been in “advanced talks” [AfricaFoot, 26 May], but now Jose Mourinho’s team presents fierce competition.

According to reports, the 29-year-old has a release clause in his contract and Ferencvaros are ready to sell to the best bidder, so Philippe Clement might have to approve paying the whole price.

Rangers still need attacking choices at Ibrox until 2024/25.

With six players now confirmed as fresh team members, Clement and Rangers have been somewhat busy in the summer window.

Although Jefte, Clinton Nsiala, Connor Barron, Liam Kelly, Hamza Igamane, Oscar Cortes have already put pen to paper, the squad is nowhere near as strong as it should be when the season opens next month.

Attack is an area that particularly requires additions with the future of Cyriel Dessers up in the air [Chris Jack, 3 July], Sam Lammers most likely to leave and significant questions regarding Todd Cantwell [The Sun, 20 June], Scott Wright and Tom Lawrence also.

Philippe Clement is likely to be frustrated at Rangers

Traore would bring experience to the team and having won medals in the past, it may well be the kind of signing required to support a youthful squad along in a race.

However, Rangers will have to act fast or miss another target this summer since Mourinho is now definitely in the battle for his signature.

Clement’s must-have goals, the latest on transfers, and his choices for strikers – Chris Jack Talks About It

Rangers are one week closer to being able to play again now that another week of summer is over.Philippe Clement’s team will spend the next few days at a training camp in Holland as they ramp up their preparations for the new season. Soon, they will have a lot of games to play, so they need to be ready to go right away.

Recently, the deal for Hamza Igamane has been the main topic of conversation. There has also been a lot of talk about a move for Kenny McLean. Off the field, fans are still waiting to find out where Clement’s team will play their home games in August.

Ibrox is always busy, even when the week isn’t very busy. Chris Jack takes some questions from readers of Rangers Review here.

Are we planning to put money into younger players and use loans to help them gain experience?

When the manager recently spoke to RangersTV, he talked about the need for experienced players, which is a sign of things to come during the next part of the window. The deals that brought in Jefte, Clinton Nsiala, and Oscar Cortes were made with the long term in mind, but they need to perform this season. Don’t forget that Clement is building up both a team and a group.

The loan market is something that Rangers could use, but those moves are more likely to be the finishing touches than the building blocks. According to the example given, signing McLean would not cost a lot of money but would give the team the experience it needs.

Rangers have a lot going on right now. There will be a mix of short-term and long-term deals, with younger players with promise and older players with experience. This mix is important for Clement because any move he makes will have sports and money effects.

How many players do we need to sign if Dessers leaves?

I think it will be one in and one out. From this week’s Rangers Review, we learned that teams in Saudi Arabia, France, and Spain, along with PAOK, were all interested in Dessers. Fans have different feelings about the striker, but most wouldn’t mind if the £4.5 million fee and his salary were used to buy another forward.

Clement will be careful with Danilo because he just got back to the team after hurting his knee. We don’t know enough about Igamane yet to say whether he will be a big hit right away or whether it will take him some time to get used to Ibrox.

That does give Clement a problem to solve because August is going to be very busy and important. Rangers must get a centre forward with a lot of experience. Since Clement only uses one player in the middle, it would be strange for him to add a fourth choice for that spot. In the last third, it will be up to other people to participate.

Do you believe Danilo has been missed as a No. 10 or second striker?

People were pretty excited when Danilo was signed last summer, and a lot of that energy was fair since a Brazilian forward had just been bought for £6 million. Fans are still interested in Danilo a year later, but this time for a different reason.

As was already said, it would be unfair to expect too much from him too soon. Also, any player who has surgery to repair a cruciate knee ligament and then has to go through the necessary therapy needs to get back in shape. Still, Clement needs Danilo to help out and score some goals this season.

Rangers will put money into the key spot, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if players like Todd Cantwell and Tom Lawrence left. Danilo was signed as a No. 9, which is what he will do most of the time. Clement shouldn’t move him a little lower; instead, he should make him stronger at No. 10 and then, hopefully, decide who leads the line.

Could they still be sold, even if they are in training camp next week?

There are times when it’s easier to just let people go. During the window, a lot of names have been thrown around as possible exits, but nothing is certain until there is money and contracts on the table. Things do need to move a little faster, though.

Rangers can’t play with a big team. In terms of football or money, it doesn’t make sense, and Clement won’t want players who aren’t in his plans to stay in the locker room for too long.

Supporters shouldn’t worry too much about who is going to Holland yet because the window is still pretty open. Things can happen very quickly, and players and managers can make things happen when they recognise what is going on. Going on the plane doesn’t mean you’ll be in the group when the window ends.

Are we going to get a right center-back?

This part of the team still has a lot of work to do. According to the Rangers Review, the deal for Jose Cordoba fell through a few weeks ago. Nsiala is the only centre back that has been signed so far. Since there are a lot of people in that spot, that might not be a surprise.

It was easy to deal with Leon Balogun, and he meets a lot of criteria, but he is not a normal starter. If the right deal comes in, the club will sell Connor Goldson. Ben Davies and Leon King also look like they are not needed by the team. At least one person has to come in if three leave.

John Souttar didn’t have a great season, but he did well overall and will try to win that spot in the position where he is most comfortable. Many people were wondering why he was so reliable when it came to selection last season. However, he is not promised a jersey because a right-sided recruit is expected to arrive.

What do you think makes a player experienced? Someone between the ages of 24 and 26 who has played a few seasons or someone over 30? Or maybe someone who has played X number of first-team games at a good level since they made their start when they were young?

As the time has gone on at Ibrox, the experience factor has become more important. It makes sense when you look at the backgrounds of some of the candidates. Cortes has only played a few games in a blue shirt and Nsiala hasn’t played a first team game. Jefte has also not played at this level before. Igamane is an unknown quantity and can’t be judged on paper, as was said above.

In general, I don’t think people should care too much about how old a recruit is. A player can get the skills and information he needs in just a few seasons if he works with good professionals and at a high level.

As long as most of your games don’t come off the bench at the last minute, you should know your way around by the time you’ve played, say, 100 games. In the end, each case must be looked at separately.

What do you think is a reasonable goal for the coming season, given how many changes are being made to the team and how little money we have for what is basically a complete rebuild? Do you think Clement will get the same amount of time as Gerrard for it?

Rangers will not give up on winning the Premiership title. It will always be that way. People think that a season is a failure if the trophies are not at Ibrox at the end of it. Even if the Scottish Cup had been won last year, Clement would have been criticised for not being able to lead his team to victory in the top flight.

Things are very different now than they were when Gerrard took over. It would be crazy to keep Clement in charge for a third try at the title if the Rangers fail this time. That might not be fair, given what he walked into. That’s just how things are at Ibrox, though.

Rangers need to stop hiring and firing managers and putting together new teams that don’t do well. The dugout and dressing room need to be stable for the club. That doesn’t mean you should stick with a plan that isn’t working, and this term Clement and these players have a lot to show. No one else will know that better than him.