Rangers completed two deadline day deals before the transfer window slammed shut at midnight last night, but were reportedly pushing for more up until the deadline.
Canadian defender Derek Cornelius and Portuguese forward Yousef Chermiti arrived from Marseille and Everton on the final day, the latter for £8m, a deal that could rise to £10m and is the club’s second largest ever outlay on a player, behind only the £12m deal to sign Tore Andre Flo from Cheslea in 2000.
Rangers total spending reached close to £30m including loan fees throughout the window, whilst the likes of Hamza Igamane, Jefte, Ridvan Yilmaz and deadline day departure Cyriel Dessers brought in the bulk of Rangers £20m worth of income. Oscar Cortes also departed on loan in the final few hours of the window.
Russell Martin and his recruitment team concluded their business with the signing of Cornelius at 9.30pm. However, news outlets such as the Rangers Review did not confirm business at Ibrox was done until close to the 11pm deadline.
This is due to Rangers chasing a further addition up until it became clear that it would not be possible.
Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi was a target of the Scottish giants through the full summer, with interest noted as early as June, with it picking up steam as the deadline edged ever closer.
In the end no agreement could be reached, and Rangers gave up the ghost after 10pm. the Eagles could not conclude a deal for a replacement ahead of the English 7pm deadline, with a move for Tottenham’s Israeli wide man Manor Soloman collapsing before the end of business down south. He would join Spanish La Liga side Villareal later that evening.
With Palace unable to sign a replacement in time the potential move to Rangers was nixed, with the London based side needing Rak-Sakyi to stay as cover ahead of their Premier League campaign.
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He had turned down Celtic earlier in the day, along with half of the world’s professional players by all accounts, and was keen on the move but it was not to be.
Rangers remain interested in the player, with sporting director Kevin Thelwell a long term admirer of the player and his skillset, and the club may look to reignite the deal in January should finances allow it.
A further issue of the deal was Rangers looking to loan the player, with an option or obligation to buy, whilst Palace were only interested in a straight sale of their academy graduate.