Oscar Cortes to Rangers transfer latest as Colombian returns to Europe amid Ibrox deal optimism
The playmaker is an Ibrox target and there is hope it's a deal that will be done this week.
Rangers are locked in talks with Lens over a loan move for Colombian ace Oscar Cortes.
The 20-year-old travelled back to Europe having been granted permission to leave his national side’s U23 camp in Venezuela where they still have two games remaining in an Olympic qualifier tournament. And Gers chiefs are hopeful a deal can be struck with the Ligue 1 outfit before Thursday night’s deadline. That would see the playmaker become Philippe Clement’s third January signing on an initial loan with an option to buy in the summer.
Reports in South America which claimed a deal had already been agreed are understood to be premature. But Rangers are optimistic a deal can be struck soon to bolster Clement’s frontline options as the Premiership title fight cranks up a gear. Cortes made a £4million switch from Millonarios in his homeland to Lens last summer.
But he has spent the majority of this season in the French club’s second string where has has made six appearances as opposed to just four substitute appearances for the top team - scoring once. Nevertheless Clement has identified the player who was his country’s top scorer at last year’s South American Youth Championships as the perfect addition to his frontline options with Abdallah Sima out for up to three months with a thigh injury.
Meanwhile, Ross McCausland has no worries about Philippe Clement stocking up on forwards in January as he reckons the extra competition can only make him a better player.
The Rangers kid has seen Fabio Silva join on loan from Wolves with Lens winger Oscar Cortes another potential arrival before the window shuts on Thursday. But McCausland said: “Football is different all over the world. People have played at different levels.
"Look at Fabio who has just come in. I have got quite close to him in the past few days. We are always doing shooting games, competitions and stuff, in training. To get the benefit of the experiences he has had at Wolves is only going to help me.
“The transfer window is not something I focus on. If anyone comes in it is obviously someone I can soak experience off as well. It is competition at the end of the day. If they are doing better than you then you are obviously not going to play. I think competition brings out the best in you.”
While new faces arrive it’s an old team mate who has just called time on his career who McCausland will forever be in debt for his big top team break this season
Steven Davis used his 20-year-old Northern Irish compatriot as a substitute in both his games as interim boss away to Aris Limassol and St Mirren after Michael Beale’s sacking in October. And McCausland hopes to continue learning from the Ibrox icon.
He said: “When I got my first chance originally at St Mirren, he just told me to go out and be myself. Hearing that from him just gave me confidence going into the game.
"That first experience under Davo was great. I don’t want to be biased but go get picked by him was extra special given we come from the same country. We have that spark and something in common. He’s obviously just retired but we will keep in touch.
“He’s someone I want to feed off in terms of experience. He’s been everywhere, at all levels, and has won trophies at this club. That’s what I want to achieve.
"But he’s always told me that if I ever want a chat he’s there for me, to give a call and go for a coffee. If I ever need that I will take him up on that. If he takes a role within Rangers or the Northern Ireland nation team we are only going to benefit from that too.”