Philippe Clement outlined his vision for Ibrox after signing a new contract, expressing a preference for renovating the Rangers squad rather than undertaking a full rebuild. The Belgian manager’s new deal extends until at least the summer of 2028, and he discussed his plans to enhance the team following last season’s Scottish Premiership title race disappointment and Scottish Cup final loss to Celtic.
Clement approved the sale of long-time defender Connor Goldson to Aris Limassol and noted that this summer’s transfer strategy focused on blending young talents, like homegrown Connor Barron from Aberdeen, Hamza Igamane, and Clinton Nsiala, with experienced players such as Robin Propper from FC Twente and Vaclav Cerny on loan.
In the short term, Clement hopes for strong fan support at the team’s temporary Hampden home while aiming for long-term success. Ahead of Saturday’s league opener against Hearts, he told Rangers TV: “As a manager, you’d prefer to renovate rather than rebuild since you retain the core of the team and make improvements. However, we lost that core for various reasons, and the team was aging with limited future potential, so a rebuild was necessary. It marked the end of a cycle, necessitating new energy and value for the club. We had to replace the six departing players and cut the wage bill to finance new transfers.
“We needed a good balance, initially bringing in younger players due to market conditions, and more experienced players like Vaclav and Robin recently. This transition is essential and exciting. I feel positive about the team’s atmosphere and am eager to see the impact of the new additions. They’ve already demonstrated quality, and the fresh dynamics they bring are promising for the season ahead.”