How two high-profile Gers pursuits failed this summer; official story contradicts players
10/16/2024 06:00 AM
Rangers director of recruitment Nils Koppen has been hard at work trying to reshape the Ibrox squad over the last two transfer windows.
But the former PSV recruitment chief's work never stops even if Koppen can only get deals over the line in either of the year's transfer windows.
Speaking to the Rangers Review at length about his role at Rangers, Nils Koppen has been talking about two high-profile failed transfer bids at Ibrox this summer.
But whilst it appears the Ibrox side did everything they could to bring both to Rangers, it appears neither player did enough to meet the Gers in the middle.
Rangers 'uncomfortable with Jose Cordoba doubts'
Rangers' high-profile pursuit of Panamanian defender Jose Cordoba was one of the transfer stories of the summer at Ibrox.
The 23-year-old Levski Sofia centre-back was a key target for Rangers in the window with the club said to hold an interest somewhere in the region of £3m for the centre-back.
Given the Ibrox treatment at the tail end of last season, a deal for Cordoba looked to be heading for completion before Rangers suddenly appeared to pull the plug on the transfer.
Jose Cordoba then completed a move to English Championship Norwich City and has since claimed he turned down Rangers after talks with his mum.
But those comments are in contrast to that of Nils Koppen, who says Rangers pulled the plug after 'doubts' surrounding a deal emerged at the 11th hour.
"A lot of work had been done and we got to a point where everything was agreed," said Koppen.
"The player was here in Glasgow and attended a game but we didn't really feel that passion to come and play for Rangers.
"While there was an agreement in place, we decided that we can't have a player at Rangers who has already started to doubt if this is the best place for him before he's played a minute of football.
"It's unfortunate because of how much work goes into the process but at the end of the day, you need to ask are we comfortable with the situation?"
Abdallah Sima's Rangers demands 'unrealistic'
The situation with Jose Cordoba has similarities to the transfer pursuit of Brighton forward Abdallah Sima.
Whilst both transfer bids eventually wound up hitting the wall, Sima's determination to play for Rangers was initially well-documented.
But having spent a season on loan at Ibrox in the last campaign, Koppen claims Rangers put forward a substantial financial package to sign Sima which wasn't accepted by the player and his agent.
With the financial details of any deal unattainable from an Ibrox point of view, Sima wound up moving on loan to Ligue 1 side Brest where the Senegalese has three goals in two Champions League games.
It was believed that Rangers missed out on a loan deal for Sima after the club's failure to reach the Champions League.
Koppen claims Rangers put forward a bid worth more than the £4m they have agreed to pay RC Lens for Oscar Cortes to sign Sima but a deal fell apart over wages.
"The impression was that we weren't going to go back for Sima, but that's not the case," said Koppen.
"We made an effort to bring Sima back to Glasgow permanently with a good offer, a higher fee than the one we agreed for Oscar Cortes. We tried to convince the player and the agent but the numbers were unrealistic so we pushed back on it.”
