'Will make a difference' - Pundit issues 'Very Special' Rangers verdict as 2 new key signings mooted

Philippe Clement should have sought transfer guarantees from Rangers before signing a new contract, according to Graeme Souness.

The former Gers player and manager admitted on talkSPORT on 12 August that he was “mystified” by the announcement of the Belgian’s new deal when he is having such difficulties in the transfer window but believes something “very special” could still be on the cards this season.

Souness has refused to concede the Scottish Premiership title is Celtic’s to lose already when he has hopes of two key signings still arriving at Ibrox to make the difference and football is already too “mad” to predict.

He said, via the Daily Record: “I won’t concede anything at this time. I think it’s very much game on. I said last year I didn’t feel there was a million miles between the teams. I still feel that. The discussion last season was about the gap and I don’t think there’s such a big gap. Rangers can go to Parkhead and get something. It’s football and football is mad. When you think you have no chance in a game, someone pulls out something very special.

“Yes, Celtic will start as favourites but it wouldn’t be the first team a Rangers team not fancied went to Celtic and won. The minute you try to attach logic to football you will become unstuck. I’m still hoping we can get a couple of players in that will make a difference because I don’t believe the jump between the two is so big.

“I’m slightly mystified Philippe Clement has signed a new contract – before you do that I’d like guarantees that you’re going to get some more players in.”

Graeme Souness bemused by Philippe Clement Rangers contract

Clement’s contract extension emerged just as questions around a possible exit were starting to mount [Daily Record, 22 July] and the club must have made some sort of concession to him for the mess he has been handed this summer.

Having admitted he did not expect to be in a sell-to-buy situation when he arrived at Ibrox last October [Rangers Review, 13 July] he would have every right to be frustrated by how difficult it has been to get players in and out.

He is now heading into his fourth game of the season with the squad looking half-finished, so it may be added job security which has seen him commit to another year.

The board are believed not to be considering the sack even if the season starts badly, having noticed the damage done in dispensing with Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Michael Beale in the previous two years [The Herald, 27 July].

The new contract has still been tipped to offer him little protection if the season disintegrates rapidly [Keith Jackson, 4 August], but with another fortnight until the deadline he will also be pushing to get some final deals over the line.

It will likely require shifting some exit-bound players first but with updates on Todd Cantwell and Ianis Hagi from Sky Sports on 12 August suggesting the two high-profile men in the B Team aren’t close to leaving the situation could become difficult.

The club haven’t had bids for the Englishman and the Romanian wants to stay after scoring a hat-trick at the weekend, but a newly-reported clause in his contract suggests he might be being forced out.

In other Rangers news, the Light Blues are working on a deal to sign a young “prodigy” to join up front.

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