Russell Martin remains quiet about Jamie Vardy link to Rangers
The 38-year-old forward, who saw a move to Genoa fall through, has now been heavily touted for a switch to Ibrox after leaving the Foxes at the end of last season.
Recently-appointed Gers boss Martin remained coy but refused to dismiss the prospect, when asked after his side's 2-2 pre-season friendly draw at home to Club Brugge on Sunday if Vardy was a target.
'I think I've been asked about so many players,' he said. 'Some miles away, some on the money. So basically, I'm not going to give you an answer on that.
But I guess you'll find out who's real and who's not in the next few weeks.'
Rangers have already added five new players this summer and Martin, who has also been linked with defenders Conor Coady and Nasser Djiga, said he expects 'the squad to look different in a week's time'.
'I think we definitely want to do more, for sure,' he said. 'And also probably some players need to move on as well at some point because the squad's going to start looking very big and very heavy.'
Rangers strikers Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane have been heavily linked with moves away in recent weeks. Dessers – top scorer last term – sat out Sunday's friendly due to injury but Martin indicated that he is keen to keep the Nigerian, who was the subject of a recent bid from AEK Athens.
'Cyriel's just been injured, he's had a bit of a niggly ankle, but he was here today,' said the manager.
'We turned down a bid a while ago for him. That was nowhere near the valuation of the football club. And he's been great, he's desperate to train. We had to give him some treatment this week on his ankle since he's been back.
'But I'm looking forward to working with him, so that's just nowhere near happening. And hopefully he will get on the training pitch this week, and he'll start enjoying it. But he's not kicked up one moment of fuss. He seems a really good professional.'
It has been reported that Igamane, who has not been able to return to Scotland from his native Morocco this summer due to visa issues, is close to joining Lille.
'Hamza's just been a bit of a red tape,' explained Martin. 'He was due back this week with the other international players, he was at the airport and he didn't quite have the right visa, so I don't think it's anyone's fault.
'Things have changed since he last got his visa, so we've had to wait for him to get his new one, which he should have tomorrow all being well. So hopefully he will be with us this week at some point.'
Asked about interest from Lille, Martin said: 'I haven't heard of any.'
Pressed further on whether he expected to have Dessers and Igamane available for the first leg of the Champions League second qualifying round tie at home to Panathinaikos a fortnight on Tuesday, Martin said: 'That's two weeks away, so I can't plan for anything in football.'
Martin, who also revealed that defender Clinton Nsiala is likely to leave on loan, reported that key centre-back is John Souttar is recovering well after undergoing hernia surgery this summer.
'The big man's good, he's trained the last few days,' he said. 'He's reacting really well to his operation and what's he had in training. He'll be back in properly this week and he'll play next weekend (in a closed-doors friendly in England).'
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Daily Record
an hour ago
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Rothwell was introduced to the Ibrox faithful at half-time of Sunday's friendly draw with Club Brugge as he took a bow alongside fellow new recruits Thelo Aasgaard and Lyle Cameron. But Dallas can't wait to see how he fits into Martin's new look Light Blues side. Rothwell and his new team-mates are heading south to St George's Park, the £80million training base used by Thomas Tuchel's England side, for a week-long training camp. Russell has lined up a closed-door clash against mystery opposition, meaning the Gers support will have to wait until the vital Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos on July 22 to get their first sight of Rothwell in a blue jersey. But Dallas - a Championship winner with Leeds in 2020 - said: 'I'm excited having seen what Joe did for Leeds last year. 'He came in on loan from Bournemouth but he didn't start the season in the team because Leeds had Ethen Ampadu and Ilia Gruev. 'They were a brilliant midfielder pair - but by chance they both got injured in the same week. 'You looked at Leeds and thought the one position they can't afford to lose is centre midfield because at that stage we didn't know much about Ao Tanaka. 'But as it goes, Joe and Tanaka were probably a better midfield partnership. 'I've obviously known Joe as a player, having come up against him many times. 'And when he started playing for Leeds, he was brilliant. He was so good throughout the rest of the season. 'He was exactly what Leeds needed. At times he'd run games in the Championship from midfield. 'Technically he's very good - very neat and tidy on the ball. He breaks up play really well. He's got a good range of passing. 'But for me, his main strength is he can carry the ball. At times when Leeds were playing against a low block, which obviously Rangers are going to come up against next season, they needed somebody to break a line and this is what Joe was actually really, really good at doing. 'He's not a creative No10, but he can certainly drive with the ball. That's a big strength, as is his range of passing and set-piece delivery. 'He's a big character as well. He's quiet within his own right, but he'll be a leader within the dressing room, which is exactly what Rangers need. 'They need leaders not just on the park, but off the park as well. 'He's player who can run games himself at times. When a team needs a little bit of energy, he was able to inject that into the game. If I remember correctly, there was a big match away at Sheffield United when Leeds were struggling at 1-0 down. 'I was at the game covering it for Sky 'Daniel Farke introduced Joe just after half-time and you could just feel the game change. 'With his running power with the ball, he really grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck that night. That's what he is capable of. "I look at the Rangers squad and I don't see another player really like that. 'Obviously they've got Nico Raskin in there and I think he would form a great partnership, the two of them. 'I think that's probably what Rangers have lacked, the ability to control games at times through their midfield. 'I think he's a great fit for them, to be honest.' Four of Gers' five summer signings have been recruited from south of Hadrian's Wall. But that has worried some fans still suffering flashbacks to the recruitment misadventures in England that have cost the club so dear in recent years. Dallas, however, is confident that value for money can be found in the EFL. He said: 'I played the majority of my career in the EFL and I still think it can be a worthwhile market for clubs like Rangers. 'Certainly there is good talent available at the top end of the Championship, maybe even the lower end of the Premier League if possible as well. 'Rangers are in a position now, obviously, where they haven't been winning trophies. 'But the challenge of getting the club back to that level will still attract players, especially with the lure of European competition too. 'I think it shows what Joe's all about as well that he's willing to go up there. 'There's been interest elsewhere for him by all accounts, with clubs in Spain mentioned. 'Joe played in the best team in the Championship last year and was a standout player. I think it makes perfect sense for Rangers to go for a player like him.'
