Out of favour Ibrox star set for Deadline Day loan move as defender reunites with former Rangers coach
The defender is set for a Deadline Day loan switch to a side Rangers have already done business with this window.
As Danny Rohl prepares for a busy transfer Deadline Day, the Gers boss is set to offload one of his fringe men.
The Rangers boss has already had a busy January window in terms of incomings, including the loan signing of Wolfsburg’s Andreas Skov Olsen and the permanent deals for Tochi Chukwuani from Sturm Graz and Tuur Rommens from Westerlo.
The Rommens deal from Westerlo was helped by their current boss, Issame Charai, who told his left back he’d be a ‘great fit’ for the Light Blues. However as one door closes for the Moroccan gaffer, another one opens, as he now has an eye on a Rangers defender, who he worked with in Govan when he was Philippe Clement’s number two.
Clinton Nsiala came to Ibrox as a player for the future with a reputation, having previously played for European giants AC Milan, however the Frenchman has struggled for minutes this season and doesn’t appear to be part of Rohl’s plans.
Westerlo ‘agree a deal’ for Nsiala loan switch
According to The Rangers Review: “Westerlo have agreed a deal to sign Rangers defender Clinton Nsiala on loan until the end of the campaign. The Rangers Review understands Nsiala will complete the switch before the close of business and be reunited with former Ibrox coach Issame Charai in Belgium.”
It is understood that Charai will have an option to buy the 22 year-old in the summer for around £1 million. Rohl is allowing the Frenchman to leave as he’s not been able to make his mark on the team, behind John Souttar, Derek Cornelius, Emmanuel Fernandez and Nasser Djiga in the selection pecking order.
The current Rangers boss isn’t the only one to have reservations about Nsiala, as Russell Martin tried to farm him out on loan to Dynamo Kyiv on Deadline Day in September, however the defender declined, claiming he wanted to fight for his place in the team. Also, Barry Ferguson notably substituted Nsiala at Rugby Park in his first game in charge last season after just 27 minutes, after Rangers went 2-0 down to Kilmarnock.
One in, one out from Rangers to Westerlo
Charai has been very complimentary of Rangers since leaving the club last summer, having stayed on at the club despite Clement’s departure. Nsiala will be the second bit of business Rangers have done with Westerlo, following the £3 million signing of Rommens.
The Westerlo boss claimed as soon as he heard his old club calling that it was a no brainer for the left back. Following the Rommens move, Charai said: “I told him it's a massive club, you'll notice directly when you play your first home game that there's quite a lot of pressure to win games.
“But, you know, the thing I like about Tuur, and that's why I would say he's really a Rangers player, is he is the kind of player that will always, always go for every ball. He's a fighter and a good player, but also somebody who's always going to be going up and down the pitch. It is the kind of player that the fans will love to see at Rangers. I'm certain that it's going to be a great fit.”