£4.5M deal agreed as Rangers sign Oscar Cortes (again) | OneFootball

Ibrox Noise is well aware of how grumpy the majority of our content has been lately, so we’re pleased to bring you a more positive story, with our approval of the new loan deal with obligation to buy (next summer) for Óscar Manuel Cortés Cortés, to give you his full name, at the same fee as before, £4.5M.

This is technically yet another one Rangers manager Philippe Clement got sort of wrong, because he said talks were underway and we’d sign him only at the right price – well, it’s the wisest solution, a loan with now obligation and not option next summer.

Make no mistake, Cortés is an immense talent.

His stats this season, over all senior football in Ligue 1 and the Scottish Premiership read 2 goals and assists in 4 for Lens, and 3 goals and assists in 7 for Rangers.

That’s a total of 5 in 11, which is excellent for a young winger over an unsettled switch from South America. He also nailed 4 in 6 for Lens B in the national cup at a lower level.

In short, Cortes was by far the best signing in January even if we only got sub-400 minutes from him, and we couldn’t endorse this new deal more.

That’s now three signings Rangers have made this summer – Jefte, Leon Balogun and Oscar Cortes – jury is completely out on the Brazilian LB, but Balogun is a true pro and a great deal, while Cortes looks like a bundle of tricks and energy, with actual final product.

We really really hope the Colombian can stay injury-free, and isn’t selected on any artificial turf ever again – it’s not kind to him, and cost him his season.

If we can keep him fit, we have a player who can rise to the top of the game with the right development, and indeed he admits his end ambition is Real Madrid – so far his performances indicate he’s on the right path. Whether he really is as good as Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr we’re maybe not so sure, but even a 10th as good as these and we’re laughing.

We’re happy to see this one sorted and Cortes and (maybe) Traore as (two of) our wingers next season would be very nice indeed.

Hopefully we’ve a lot more to come from the Colombian.