Philippe Clement fires Rangers transfer warning to Ibrox board over Hamza Igamane

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Philippe Clement has told the Rangers board to think twice before even considering selling Hamza Igamane this month.

The Moroccan wonderkid fired home a perfect hat-trick in Sunday’s 3-3 thriller against Hibs to underline his red-hot reputation. The 22-year-old - who has now netted 10 goals in his last 11 outings - has already been linked with a move to Premier League side Everton. But boss Clement insists now is not the time to sell.

He declared: “It’s important now if we want consistency that we’re not going to sell players who are performing well. Otherwise it becomes even more difficult.”

Clement has been delighted with the rapid progress of a project player signed from FAR Rabat for just £1.7million last summer.

Igamane penned a five-year deal when he arrived in Scotland but Clement insists it’s down to new CEO Patrick Stewart and sporting director Nils Koppen to set out their plans to protect their investment in Igamane.

Asked if the club might consider improving Igamane’s contract to ward of interest, he replied: “Those are things to discuss inside the club. That’s the good thing now, there’s a lot of clarity after this period of six months where there was a big vacuum and I was the only spokesman in the club.

“This is something for Patrick and Nils to talk about, about contracts. Of course I’m involved in those things and we discuss everything. But it will be on their plate to discuss with you guys.”

Speaking ahead of Wednesday's trip to Dundee, Clement again stated that former Man United director Stewart plans to address fans on plans for this month’s transfer window. It comes after Sunday’s Easter Road slip-up when the big Belgian admitted he was keen to land new recruits to reinforce his injury-hit defence.

“It’s not going to take more than one week, that’s for sure,” said Clement as he was quizzed on the scheduling of Stewart’s announcement. "Of course it’s important that the fans know what the plans of the club are. Patrick is totally involved in that way also towards the fans and everybody outside of the club also.”

Stewart will set out whether Rangers have the funds to go shopping this week. But Clement had to pause to think when asked if he was happy with his January budget. “That is a difficult question,” he confessed. “Every manager wants more.

“But I’m realistic, so what is possible for the club I will work really hard to get the best out of that. There aren’t many clubs where you can get a blank cheque book to do whatever you want. It doesn’t happen much. I know what the situation of the club, I know what the plan is, I know it is a long-term plan.

“I engage myself fully into that, so I’m not going to complain about it. I want to win every game. I want to have the best team, the best squad. It’s a challenge as a manager not only to buy the best squad but also to make the best squad.

"I went into the challenge to make the best squad with all these people, it is not only me, it is a lot of people in this club, to make the best squad. And that’s what we’re going for every day. In moments, in several moments, they have shown over the last couple of months – but not consistently like is needed here. We’re pushing that button a lot every day.”

Gers head to Tayside hoping to arrest their dismal run of form on the road over the festive period. They've taken one point from a possible nine after slipping up against St Mirren, Motherwell and Hibs. But Clement knows it will just as tough at Dens.

He said: “I have a lot of respect for Tony Docherty. His team is always very competitive, they make it really difficult for opponents.

"They are really good in transition, they have a lot of good players in transition. Three front players really good in that way.

“Lyle Cameron also, a very good midfielder, creative midfielder, with decisive action in the last pass and a good solid base behind him also. So, we know it’s going to be a game where we need to break over the wall, see that we don’t run in the transitions. We need to take lessons out of the Hibs game to be better, to win those duels more.”

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