'I want to go home' interview shows why Gers never stood a chance after rejected transfer bid

09/18/2024 07:00 AM

Philippe Clement set out at the beginning of the summer to rebuild Rangers and create a team good enough to win the Scottish Premiership.

Five points behind after five games probably wasn't what the manager planned before a ball was kicked, neither was having to contend with not playing home games at Ibrox.

The early transfer business saw a raft of young and talented players join the Rangers squad with more experienced players like Robin Propper, Vaclav Cerny and Nedim Bajrami arriving later in the window.

• READ MORE:Rangers Net Transfer Spend Summer 2024

Rangers never stood a chance in Davy Klaassen transfer bid

Other senior players have been linked with Rangers reported to have missed out on Davy Klaassen as a potential free agent signing – a signing that the player himself has explained was never going to happen.

Speaking to Ajax's club media, the pull of a return home was a move that clearly meant the world to the 31-year old:

“They didn’t want me to leave, so I went to the coach and said ‘Coach, I don’t know. I want to go to Ajax, I want to go home.’

An emotional Klaassen then continued, “I told him I wanted to leave because I cannot give my all anymore and that is unfair for you too.

“‘Coach, I just want to go home,’ he told the Ajax media team.

Rangers still short of experience as Clement continues to look

There was a one in, one out policy throughout the transfer window and Philippe Clement had spoken about the need to replace experience if it left and that balance was important:

“We were focused on everything, but it is easier earlier to get the young players in, but for the rest of the transfer window there will also be experience coming into the building and we need a good balance in the squad and in the team of both,” Clement told Rangers’ website.

“It was important to find these young talents and I think we have found a few really exciting players for the future for this club.”

Things didn't quite work out this way though.

When Ben Davies and Scott Wright left Rangers in the closing days of the transfer window, they weren't replaced by players with a similar profile in terms of experience.

Davies was replaced by the more mobile Kasanwirjo whilst Wright wasn't replaced at all.

Clement spoke about considering going back into the transfer market for a number six, however, the average age of his squad allows space for a grey hair or two.

Or in the case of the newly coiffured Klaassen, blonde.