RANGERS CONFIDENTIAL: The loan star whose form at Ibrox has already taken him out of the club’s price range and the secret behind one player’s stellar form

The chances that Rangers can sign Vaclav Cerny permanently next summer already seem quite slim.

Philippe Clement, valued at around £6.5million by parent club Wolfsburg, admitted last week that the on-loan Czech winger is currently out of Rangers’ price range.

With Cerny having had a productive season, nine goals and five assists in all competitions have made him a key figure for Clement’s side.

But it must be hugely frustrating for the Rangers manager. He will know that the better Cerny performs during this loan spell, the more unaffordable he becomes. It’s a double-edged sword.

If he finishes the season with almost 20 goals in all competitions and helps Rangers perform well in Europe, other clubs with bigger budgets will take notice.

Rangers starred in the same film last season with Abdallah Sima. Although Sima was open to a permanent move to Rangers from Brighton, his transfer fee and wages were simply too expensive.

Sima is now destroying it in France for a Brest side who have taken the Champions League by storm. Without a doubt, he was someone who got away.

Rangers need to learn from this. When they negotiate these loans, they do must make sure they have the option to purchase the player for a specified – and affordable – fee.

It’s just common sense. All they are doing right now is giving Cerny a platform to flourish so that Wolfsburg can make a few quid from him next summer.

It is an important part of the club’s transfer strategy that needs to be addressed.

MOROCCAN CHEF HELPS RANGERS GET THE BEST FROM IGAMANE

Hamza Igamane’s form has been crucial to Rangers’ mini-resurgence in recent weeks.

The Moroccan striker has scored four goals in his last four games and is quickly emerging as the club’s most potent threat.

Still only 22 and very raw, it would be unreasonable to put too much pressure on a young lad still getting to grips with life in Glasgow.

Igamane still doesn’t speak much English, but Rangers have recruited a local chef to help him with the language barrier.

Abdellah Ansame works at Goat in the Tree restaurant in Glasgow, a Moroccan eatery that has become a home from home for Igamane.

Ansame also holds a UEFA A License coaching badge and was initially called up to help Igamane by Rangers recruitment chief Nils Koppen.

The club posted a video on social media last week explaining the relationship, with Ansame now regularly attending matches to act as Igamane’s translator.

Considering its great shape you should be sure it is a pleasure. Thanks to his chef-turned-translator, Igamane is causing a storm at Ibrox.

Rumor has it that Ansame’s restaurant is now fully booked for the next six months too…

ENGLISH OPTIONS MAY PREVENT PATTERSON FROM RETURNING TO IBROX ON LOAN

Rangers would face competition from English Championship clubs if they sign Nathan Patterson on loan in January.

Patterson has been tipped for a move to Everton once the transfer window opens next month after recently returning to full fitness.

The 23-year-old right-back has been plagued by injuries since leaving Rangers to join the Toffees three years ago for a fee of around £11 million.

Patterson missed Scotland’s Euro 2024 campaign due to injury and has struggled with his form due to a lack of playing time at club level.

Everton boss Sean Dyche recently dismissed reports that Patterson could be sent out on loan, but the player is keen to secure more playing time ahead of his return to the Scotland squad for the World Cup qualifiers early next year.

Rangers will almost certainly look to strengthen at right-back in January, following the news last week that Nana Kasanwirjo is likely to miss the rest of the season due to knee surgery.

That could open up the possibility of Patterson returning to Ibrox on loan, but reports suggest he is also on the radar of several clubs in the English Championship.

INJURY PROBLEMS DESTROY FLECK’S HOPES OF ZWANSONG WITH CHESTERFIELD

John Fleck’s hopes of enjoying an Indian Summer in his career appear doomed.

Had it not been for some bad luck in recent years, the former Ibrox wonderkid would have had none at all.

His misfortune started at Sheffield United when he got a metal plate in his leg after a small fracture. The problem was that the plate was too big, which caused him constant pain when he trained or played for six months.

It was only when he suffered a blow to the same leg after moving to Blackburn for the second half of last season that he underwent another operation, with the correct size plate inserted for a second time.

The only problem was that by the time Fleck was fit again, the season was over and his contract was up. In total he played just four games for the Blades and one for Blackburn.

He returned to Rangers in the summer to train with Auchenhowie before eventually signing for League Two Chesterfield after a year.

“As far as my condition and my leg are concerned, I now feel completely normal again,” he said at the time of signing. “I’ve come through the other side and I feel the best I’ve felt in probably a year.”

Talk about quickly regretting what you say. Fleck made his debut in the FA Cup win against Horsham but lasted just 21 minutes of a Football League Trophy win over Grimsby after straining his hamstring.

“It’s a bit like Groundhog Day at the moment,” said assistant manager Danny Webb. “John is as disappointed as anyone.”

Fleck may not have quite reached the heights expected of him as a youth player, but three Scottish titles, a Scottish Cup, promotion to the Premier League with Sheffield United and five Scotland caps is still quite a career.

Unfortunately, at 33 years old, it doesn’t look like he’ll add to that number by the time he hangs up the boots.