HEARTBREAKING REPORT:Two key players will be leaving.
Oscar Cortes has been poor for Rangers during parts of the preseason and will take some time yet to get up to full speed says Derek Ferguson.
The ex-Ibrox favourite slammed the returning winger’s performance in the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United as “extremely poor” and feels that the Colombian, like Brazilian striker Danilo, are still finding their feet after each suffering serious injuries last season.
Cortes looked good on loan at Ibrox last year before injury, doing enough that the Gers decided to bring him back during the transfer window with an obligation to make the deal permanent next summer.
Philippe Clement’s side failed to win a game prior to the start of the campaign proper with only the 4-4 draw with Union Berlin to show for their travels, and with the manager scrambling to get senior signings in late in the window Ferguson believes the results emphasise the need for leadership in the squad from the likes of the exit-linked captain.
He spoke exclusively to Ibrox News and said: “We talk about Jack Butland, a leader of course. But you need the Connor Goldsons, guys like [James] Tavernier, or in the past the Steve Davises, the Barry Fergusons, you need these guys to get in amongst it and rally the troops.
“But Cortes for me looks as if, like Danilo, it’s going to take a bit of time to find their match-sharpness, as you can see that they’re off it a wee bit.
“The first half showing against Man United was extremely poor in my opinion.”
Rangers need James Tavernier with Connor Goldson gone
Very few Light Blues players aside from Mohamed Diomande and potentially Connor Barron looked especially impressive in anything other than flashes during a slog of a preseason.
Cortes is still only 20 and had an impressive start to life at Ibrox curtailed after just seven games so it is probably no surprise that he, like Danilo, will take long than other to return to form.
Although Tavernier’s exit looked to be imminent after Trabzonspor came back in with an improved bid [Rangers Review, 23 July] it now seems that he might stay, and although the leadership of Goldson has gone Clement has quickly replaced him with FC Twente captain Robin Propper.
If the manager can continue to land a few more experienced signings then a somewhat chaotic lead in to the season could start to improve markedly, after the Belgian himself signed a new deal in Glasgow.
In other Rangers news, the Light Blues have left a club bemoaning an “annoying” and “strange” exit to Ibrox they were powerless to stop.
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