Philippe Clement is reportedly eyeing a rapid solution to his injury crisis at Rangers – with Ivorian defender Bamo Meite said to be back on the table.
The Ibrox boss lost Dujon Sterling to injury against Hibs and while the extent of his issue is yet to be revealed, it was the latest in the long line of major defensive setbacks. Utility man Sterling was only deployed at centre-back because John Souttar, Leon Baolgun and Neraysho Kasanwirjo were sidelined, leaving Robin Propper as the only senior natural centre-back.
Youngster Leon King was called upon for a rare appearance but Clement will look to the market for reinforcements this month, something he openly admitted back in December even before his injury issues worsened. Reports from France indicate Marseille’s Meite, who was linked back in the summer, is viewed as a possible solution. Telefoot report the defender, who only signed from Lorient permanently in a €10.5m (£8.7m) deal in the summer, is being eyed by the Ibrox side and Montpellier.
Meite spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Marseille and they triggered the agreement to splash out almost £9m on his permanent signature. But since then he’s struggled for minutes and a January loan deal could be an option.
He was loosely linked with a loan to Ibrox back in the summer shortly after his move was confirmed but it was decided he would stay to compete for places. Having lost that fight, however, with just three sub appearances, a deal may now be more likely.
The report adds that both Gers and Montpellier want a ‘dry’ loan, without an option or obligation to buy, while Marseille want guaranteed cash to sanction any move for the 23-year-old. So it looks like there’s some distance there before an agreement can be struck. But Clement will be even more keen than ever to get a new defender in after Sterling’s setback so it could advance rapidly over the next few days if they do indeed decide Meite is their man.