Rangers boss Clement admits his grand plans are depending on £40million Euro jackpot

Philippe Clement admits a Champions League jackpot would have a huge impact on his Rangers transfer budget.

The Ibrox side will face Dynamo Kiev in Poland on Tuesday evening in the first leg of their third qualifying round.

In case of a win, a play-off match against the Austrian RB Salzburg or the Dutch FC Twente will follow. The return match will be played a few days before the summer transfer market closes.

With a budget of £40m, Clement has drawn up a list of targets in case Rangers reach the group stage, and a second list of targets in case they reach the Europa League.

“Of course, it’s a world of difference,” said the Belgian.

‘It can really be different what you’re trying to do at the end of the window, so you have to be prepared for both scenarios.

Defender Leon Balogun and Clement discuss tactics at the Lublin Arena

Mohamed Diomande and his Rangers teammates walk around the pitch

‘In addition, it has become very clear in your conversations with players that in some cases it is only possible if you receive Champions League money.

‘It’s four very important games that you have to win or qualify, so it’s a long road.

‘Let’s concentrate on the first match now and get a good result for the second match.

“That’s what we need to do now and not look at where we are in September. It’s early August now. We need to make the best of the situation now. That’s very important.”

Clement, who has come under fire after dropping points in Saturday’s season-opening game against Hearts, said he had no qualms about fielding experienced Dutch defender Robin Propper for a baptism of fire against a Dynamo side who beat Partizan Belgrade 9-2 over two legs in the second qualifying round.

“I’m not worried about that. Vaclav (Cerny) already showed it against Hearts when he came on,” said the Belgian.

‘Robin is fit, but of course you come in and there are a lot of things to do at that time. Brexit hasn’t helped that and I know from experience that you have to fill in so much paperwork to come to Scotland and live here.

Manager Clement feels the surface for the crucial European Championship match

Rangers will be without Oscar Cortes, top left, who is out for four to five weeks

Balogun has his say as Rangers prepare for draw at temporary home of Dynamo Kiev

“You have to find a house and a school for your children. There’s also a lot going through his mind the last week, because he’s only been with us for a few days. So that’s something to keep in mind for the game tomorrow.

“The same goes for Vaclav. He’s had four weeks of vacation and now he’s had four days of training with us. So it’s a matter of seeing when is the right time to start with him, when is the right time to bring him in.”

Winger Oscar Cortes is out for four to five weeks with a knee injury he sustained in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Tynecastle.

“Oscar didn’t travel,” Clement said after the Colombian winger underwent a scan. “It was a very unfortunate fall in the game, and his knee was twisted. It was extra frustrating for him because he had that unfortunate injury before last season.

‘Of course it’s a big blow for him and for the team, because he came back and he’s going to be an important player for the future of the club.

“He has a lot of quality, he showed that last season. He was hungry to come back, he was on his way back. He wasn’t at his best yet, but he showed promising things again. So yes, it’s a setback, but it’s part of football. It’s not just at Rangers, it’s at every club in the world.

“You can have nasty collisions, you can have those things. You have to learn to live with it and recover quickly. Everyone is working hard on that. I also think that the quality of our rehabilitation is better than last season.”

Ianis Hagi also didn’t travel after playing for the B team against Middlesbrough. Despite a lack of options in midfield, Clement admitted the Romanian midfielder is not in his plans and will be sold if an acceptable offer comes in.

“We spoke to him and his agents about this before the start of the season,” the Rangers manager said.

‘We have to look, as I said, at many things within the club, about salaries, about how many players you can have in a position, with the budget we have, and to get a budget to be able to make transfers.

“It was really clear that the intention was to sell. That’s what he wanted. So, that’s the clear situation.”