'Want to sell him': President explains what Rangers must to do sign £9m man this month
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Thanks to a rather unexpected source, Rangers now have that little bit more information available to them as the Scottish Premiership outfit weigh up a January switch.
While Clinton Nsiala impressed on his Premiership debut against Dundee – the summer signing from AC Milan stepping up in Thursday night’s 1-1 draw – it’s fair to say Philippe Clement’s hard was forced by the absences of John Souttar, Leon Balogun, Dujon Sterling and Neraysho Kasanwirjo.
If you don’t count Leon King – and Clement doesn’t seem to, given that he only brought him on in an emergency situation at Hibernian – Rangers have just one senior centre-half fit and available right now.
And it reflects pretty badly on Robin Propper that, on a night in which he started alongside a 20-year-old Premiership debutant, it was the experienced Dutchman who looked like the rookie.
Ridvan Yilmaz had a ‘night to forget’ at right-back, too.
Even the usually-tireless Turkey international appears to be feeling the effects of a gruelling schedule, struggling in James Tavernier’s continued absence as Vaclav Cerny rescued a point at Dens Park.
So a versatile defender capable of playing both at right-back and centre-half would certainly be welcomed with open arms at Ibrox.
Marseille only want permanent deal for Rangers linked Bamo Meite
Rangers are reportedly back in for Marseille’s Bamo Meite, having considered the 23-year-old over the summer too.
Now, they are not Meite’s only suitor.
Ligue 1 rivals Montpellier have enquired about taking the former FC Lorient ace away from the Stade Velodrome. But, as president Laurent Nicollin explains, Marseille are only interested in a permanent deal rather than a temporary switch.
“If we have to sign someone, we would rather sign a defender who can play right-back,” Nicollin tells Midi Libre. “Bamo Meite, who we contacted, has this profile.
“But Marseille wants to sell him. You never know what can happen at the end of the transfer window.”
Marseille, fighting to be named ‘best of the rest’ in France as Paris Saint-Germain saunter to another title, paid £9 million to sign Meite just last summer.
And while he has played only 24 minutes of Ligue 1 football since then under former Brighton and Hove Albion coach Roberto de Zerbi, it feels unlikely that the 1993 Champions League winners would be willing to accept a particularly substantial loss at this early stage.
Marseille set out Meite stance as Philippe Clement provides Leon Balogun update
Bamo Meite made his Marseille debut under Rangers hero Gennaro Gattuso over in France. An adaptable operator in the Dujon Sterling or Neraysho Kasanwirjo mould, perhaps there is still soon wriggle room as far as any negotiations go.
Marseille want a permanent deal, but perhaps they would be willing to accept a loan with an option-to-buy clause in Meite’s contract. Then again, whether Rangers can realistically stump up the sort of fee L’OM are looking for remains to be seen.
Should Marseille look to recoup every penny of their £9 million investment, that would rule Rangers out of contention pretty quickly.
Philippe Clement’s team host St Johnstone on Saturday, back to the home comforts of Ibrox after Dundee extended Rangers’ ‘outrageously poor’ away record on Thursday.
Nsiala will hope to keep his place, though veteran Balogun is due to return relatively soon after a spell on the sidelines.
"Balogun will be back in the short-term, but he won't be back for [the Dundee clash],” Clement said. “John Souttar and James Tavernier won't be back for the weekend, but we can't put exact dates on these things."
