Rangers have been told they are RIGHT not to risk Hamza Igamane for the Champions League qualifier with Panathinaikos next Tuesday.
It comes with the club standing firm on their £15million valuation of the striker amid ongoing talks with Lille – with reports suggesting one suitor has now dropped out of the race to land the 22-year-old.
Igamane impressed in his debut Ibrox campaign – netting 16 goals for the Light Blues after a £1.7m move from AS FAR last summer.
That has sparked discussions with the Ligue 1 side over a potential move – and Rangers new owners 49ers Enterprises are determined to land a bumper profit in the 22-year-old with the Glasgow giants holding out for a £15m payday.
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And while Igamane has already agreed personal terms over a move no formal bid has been tabled – with Lille president Olivier Letang previously admitting the club were in no hurry to get a deal done.
But Foot Mercato now report that the club are re-launching their bid to land the striker and want him to be their “next” recruit.
With the Light Blues to command a bumper fee, former Ibrox striker Gordon Dalziel insists that it would be a gamble for Russell Martin to play the Morocco international.
However, he reckons Cyriel Dessers should be recalled despite interest from AEK. He told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard: “If I was in the situation, for example Igamane, and they are talking figures around the £14-15m for him – I totally understand Rangers wouldn’t risk him.
“But, I would certainly risk Dessers, because Dessers isn’t going to get you anywhere near that.”
But the valuation from Rangers has reportedly seen Marseille rule out a move, with Le 10 Sport that Lille’s Ligue 1 rivals are unwilling to go beyond €10million (£8.6million).
In terms of a replacement for Dessers and Igamane, Luuk de Jong is reportedly on Rangers’ radar – as he looks to have pulled the curtain down on his time at PSV Eindhoven.
The 34-year-old had been training with the Eredivise champions to maintain his fitness as he weights up his options.
Luuk de Jong of PSV l(Image: Getty Images)
But the club have now handed his No. 9 jersey to Ricardo Pepi and signed Borussia Monchengladbach forward Alassane Plea as a successor.
Former Dutch defender Bram van Polen claims that he has heard whispers that De Jong’s time is officially over at the Eredivise champions as he looks for an “adventure” away from the Netherlands.
He told ESPN’s Voetbalpraat: “They’ve moved on now. I would understand a foreign adventure from his (De Jong’s) perspective.
“And perhaps he’s become worried about his minutes. Last year, you could already see things declining with Pepi. And now, with another title, he’s saying goodbye on a high note.”
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