Keith Wyness shares why Rangers turned down Djeidi Gassama January offer
Danny Rohl was not willing to let Djeidi Gassama depart Rangers in January amid his side being in a tight title race in the Scottish Premiership.
That is according to ex-Aberdeen, Aston Villa, and Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, after Rangers rejected an offer for Gassama in the January transfer window.
Monaco wanted to sign Gassama on loan with a £10million option to buy at the end of the season, but Rangers rejected the proposal.
Gassama only joined Rangers last summer from Sheffield Wednesday, but the 22-year-old has made little impact at Ibrox.
Rangers ‘wanted to keep’ Djeidi Gassama
Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – states that Rangers rejecting offers for players in January is “unusual.”
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks the move shows Rohl’s “strong position” at the club.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Danny Rohl, again, as is Martin O’Neill, is in a strong position. Both managers are starting to produce and chasing down Hearts.
“So they’re both being left alone by their boards and supported, but not massively, at least they’ve been able to turn down some money, which is unusual.
“Certainly, Gassama, I think, is one that they would want to keep anyway. And I think, again, in the summer, they could get that sort of money anyway.”
Rangers could be open to offers on star
Youssef Chermiti could be sold by Rangers in the summer, after the club also rejected a bid for the striker in January.
Turkish club Fenerbahce offered £13m for the 21-year-old, but Rangers believe his value could increase with a positive second half of the season.
So far, Chermiti only has four goals in 27 appearances for the club, and Ryan Naderi has been brought in to add extra firepower to their attack.