Rangers transfer news: Philippe Clement assesses January window plans
Rangers chairman John Bennett insists the club's summer spending will not impact Philippe Clement's January plans; watch Hearts vs Rangers live on Sky Sports on Wednesday; kick-off 8pm
Tuesday 5 December 2023 15:29, UK
Rangers manager Philippe Clement is preparing for a "hectic" transfer window but that might not mean wholesale changes to his squad.
In just seven weeks in charge, Clement has taken charge of 10 games as he looked to turn the club's fortunes around and remain on track for silverware this season.
Rangers are unbeaten under the Belgian and are eight points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership title race, albeit with a game in hand. They have a League Cup final against Aberdeen later this month and are guaranteed European football after Christmas.
- Sima double powers Rangers to victory over scrappy St Mirren
- Scottish Premiership Team of the Week
- Stream the Scottish Premiership and more with NOW
Live SPFL
Clement has hinted there will be signings in January, but insisted players already at the club would also be given the chance to prove themselves.
"It's always a busy period, but that doesn't mean a lot of players are coming in and out," he told Sky Sports News.
Trending
- Usyk vs Fury 2: Start time, ring walks, undercard and odds
- PL Predictions: More dropped points for Arsenal at Palace?
- Papers: Man Utd considering Rashford loan exit in January
- Fury weighs in career-heaviest as both fighters remain fully clothed!
- Fury's beard 'must be cut!' Team Usyk to push complaint
- Transfer Centre LIVE! Dele says goodbye to Everton - Como next?
- Fernandez: My transformation under Maresca explained
- Man Utd latest: 'Devastated' Mount out for several weeks
- Ange to Slot: I'm not a football evangelist, I'm a naughty little boy!
- Introducing the FULL much-changed 2025 F1 grid with driver line-ups
"It's always a busy period for managers at all the clubs because anything can happen until the last second with players coming in and going out.
"To be honest I'm always happy when it's the first of February!
"It's always a hectic period because players start to doubt whether to stay or not, there are a lot of talks from us with players and their agents to convince them about things.
"First, we focus on December because it's going to be busy also."
Summer spending will not affect Clement's ability to strengthen squad
Former boss Michael Beale bought Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers, Jose Cifuentes and Danilo, while Abdallah Sima arrived on loan from Brighton with Jack Butland, Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling and Leon Balogun signed as free agents. Rangers accounts noted a total spend of £21m in the summer.
However, chairman John Bennett told the club's AGM: "It will have no effect on the manager's plans.
"The manager has been very clear about the challenges of the January window, everyone knows about that, but I wouldn't worry at all about the summer spend and that impinging upon what Philippe wants to do.
"The board will be ready for January or next summer. We have to keep aspiring to strengthen.
"Do also bear in mind that there will be contract expiries, it depends what we do about that so it is not just about transfer fees, it is about recycling wages that roll off which are fairly significant. It is about being clever and more clever than we have been frankly, in the recycling of wages."
Will Clement's unbeaten run continue at in-form Hearts?
Midfielder Ryan Jack and Nicolas Raskin will miss Wednesday night's game at Hearts, live on Sky Sports, with the manager warning Raskin is facing an extended spell out.
"Ryan will be back faster than Nico," he said of the Belgian who injured his ankle against the Jambos in October.
"It's a big chance Nico will miss the [Viaplay] cup final, the injury is more difficult than we thought in the beginning.
"We need to make a good rehab for him to make him fit for the rest of the season because it's not about the next two weeks, there are a lot of big games coming."
Clement has already faced Steven Naismith's side twice since replacing Michael Beale at Ibrox in October, beating them in the league and Viaplay Cup.
"It's a little bit special as it will be 11 games and three times playing against the same team so it's almost a habit to play every time against Hearts," said the 49-year-old.
"It's a good solid team with good attacking force also. In the two games, we had to be on our toes to win.
"I've heard a lot about the atmosphere there and I read and hear a lot about how focused they are to beat us so it's going to be a good challenge."
Scottish Premiership and SWPL on Sky Sports
Sky Sports - This season up to 48 cinch Premiership games will be available across Sky Sports' flagship channels, including Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event, plus at least five SWPL matches. From 2024/25, up to 60 cinch Premiership will be live on Sky Sports, in addition to the SWPL.
Sky Sports News - Running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Scottish football fans can enjoy Sky Sports News' (channel 409) rolling editorial coverage of the cinch Premiership and SWPL throughout the season.
Sky Sports Digital - Follow all the latest from Scottish football across SkySports.com and app, including exclusive features and interviews, plus dedicated live blog coverage, in-game clips from matches live on Sky Sports and free highlights.
Sky Sports Social - Alongside coverage and visibility for the league across all Sky Sports' main social media channels, the bespoke X page @ScotlandSky (formerly known as Twitter) will continue to be the home of all Scottish football content on Sky Sports.
Highlights show - Tune in for a dedicated round-up from the cinch Premiership every week on Sky Sports Football.
To download the Sky Sports app click here, to visit Sky Sports website click here.
Sky Sports is the home of domestic football in the UK and Ireland, with action from the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Women's Premier League, Premier League, WSL, EFL, and more.
Follow Rangers with Sky Sports
Follow every Rangers game in the Scottish Premiership this season with our live blogs on the Sky Sports website and app, and watch match highlights for free.
Want the Rangers latest? Bookmark our Rangers news page, check out Rangers' fixtures and Rangers' latest results, watch Rangers' goals and video, keep track of the Scottish Premiership table and see which Rangers games are coming up live on Sky Sports.
Get all this and more - including notifications sent straight to your phone - by downloading the Sky Sports Scores app and setting Rangers as your favourite team.
