Philippe Clement wanted more out of the winter transfer window for Rangers and revealed finances dictated that Lyall Cameron was recruited from Dundee on a pre-contract.
The 22-year-old midfielder will join the Ibrox club in the summer when his current deal expires, with Portuguese defender Rafael Fernandes the only immediate addition after arriving on loan from Lille, with an option to make the move permanent.
Ahead of the Scottish Cup fifth-round tie against Queen’s Park on Sunday, manager Clement was asked if he was happy to wait for Cameron until the summer.
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Rangers boss Philippe Clement wants to see midfielder Lyall Cameron impress for Dundee until he makes the switch to Ibrox this summer
“At the end, that’s a financial decision, of course,” said the Belgian boss, who revealed Fernandes has not been added to the Europa League squad, with Danilo, Ianis Hagi and Clinton Nsiala coming in as the three permitted changes.
“We all wanted him to come as fast as possible, but it was not possible. So we needed to wait a few months longer.
“We as a club wanted more. We talked about that at the end. We didn’t achieve all the goals that we wanted, and now it’s about the squad going full for everything we want, and that’s to win every game. That stays the ambition.
Ianis Hagi is one of three players added to Rangers’ Europa League squad
“We will keep looking to develop this group and make it better. Maybe because we missed something in the transfer window it will give an opportunity to somebody else to blossom.
“Lyall is part of our plans that we have with the club to develop young Scottish players or to get young Scottish players with potential.
“We had several talks about how I see him playing and what he could do for the team. So, we’re really happy that he can come next season.”
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Dundee manager Tony Docherty expresses his delight for Lyall Cameron’s summer move to Rangers while insisting he will not drop his standards for the Dens Park side
Clement claimed logic underpinned his Europa League squad adjustment ahead of the last-16 tie next month, where they will face one of FC Twente, Bodo/Glimt, Fenerbahce and Anderlecht.
Kieran Dowell, who has moved to Birmingham on loan, injured Neraysho Kasanwirjo and Oscar Cortes, who is making his way back from injury, drop out, with no place for new boy Fernandes.
Clement said: “Firstly, it’s always difficult and we could only make three changes, so that made it even more difficult.
“We have Danilo back in the squad. He was unlucky with his shoulder, with that contact and a bad fall.
“But he’s going to start training next week with the group again, so he will be normally fit for these European games.
“Ianis Hagi to get in the squad again is a very logical one.
Neraysho Kasanwirjo drops out of Rangers’ Europa League squad
“And Clinton Nsiala instead of Nana (Kasanwirjo) was also a logical one. So, that was three and I couldn’t do more. So that’s a pity.
“Two players who fall out because of that is Rafa Fernandes, he’s just here and we have the other centre-backs fit.
“I explained to Rafa and those are the rules. I don’t make the rules for UEFA. He understood the story.
“And Oscar Cortes. With Oscar, it’s the same story as with Dani at the beginning of the season, he was a long time out.
“It will be more beneficial for him to have a good schedule for one game a week.
“I expect Dujon Sterling and Leon Balogun to be back a week after and Ridvan Yilmaz is back already in training. Leon King is also back in training after his concussion.”
