Rangers hold firm to earn Champions League boost ahead of imminent Ibrox transfer - report
07/03/2024 12:00 PM
Rangers are under pressure to get players in the door at Ibrox before the Champions League qualifiers.
The Gers know that whilst the summer transfer window runs until the start of September, those early season Euro qualifiers come thick and fast at the beginning of August.
Given the scale of the rebuild involved at Rangers this summer, and the near £30m benefit of Champions League qualification, it's an almighty challenge the club need to be prepared to meet.
But as yet more transfer pursuits end in a fruitless manner, there is reportedly some good transfer news when it comes to Champions League qualification.
Rangers close in on Igamane
The imminent arrival of Hamza Igamane at Rangers appears to be the worst kept secret in Scotland.
As the Moroccan striker waves goodbye to current side FAR Rabat, the Gers are believed to be waiting in the wings with a £1.7m deal set to be completed.
Only 21-years-old, there is some excitement around the Igamane transfer given just how highly rated the young Moroccan hitman is.
One leading football data company ranks the kid as amongst the best young strikers in world football.
But there was set to be a catch as Rangers moved in on Igamane, with the striker potentially set to be called up for the Olympics with Morocco.
This would result in the Gers losing the forward for Champions League qualification in a potential blow to the club's hopes of reaching the group stage.
But now a local journalist has claimed that Rangers have blocked the hitman's appearance at the tournament ahead of Hamza's transfer to Ibrox.
Champions League boost at Ibrox
Moroccan Grinta are an online source of Moroccan football news and opinion and have been speaking on the Rangers Review this week.
In a clip shared by journalist Derek Clark, it's been claimed that Rangers have 'refused to accept' Hamza Igamane from joining up with the Moroccan Olympics team.
"I would like to see (Hamza Igamane) participate in the Olympic Games in Paris," said Taha from Moroccan Grinta.
"But I heard that Rangers refused to accept it and to be honest it will be good in terms of the importance of the pre-season training.
"That will help Igamane to adapt with Rangers' style."
It'll also help with the striker's availability when it comes to the Champions League qualifiers.
Rangers are set to enter the tournament at QR3 with the first leg scheduled for the 6th or 7th of August.
The Paris Olympics is set to run from 26th July until the 11th of August.
