Reported Clement alternative subject to £86m as Rangers rue what they could've had
05/14/2024 03:00 AM
When Rangers went on to appoint Philippe Clement, it's not exactly clear if Oliver Glasner was ever really in the running.
We know that Rangers met several candidates before pitching for the Belgian, who for all intents and purposes has had a solid impact at Ibrox to date.
But as the dust settles on that devastating Old Firm defeat, now Clement's third derby without a victory, there are some murmurs of discontent with the Belgian's honeymoon well and truly over.
Frank Lampard is one name who came close to joining, the English legend's British links endorsed by Graeme Souness.
Another is ex-Gers defender Kevin Muscat, now of Shanghai Port after swapping the J-League for the Chinese Super League.
But ex-Eintracht Frankfurt manager Oliver Glasner certainly stands out as a potential what might've been for Rangers and talk of Bayern Munich interest is making some pretty huge headlines.
Glasner wanted by Bayern
Oliver Glasner is the Austrian manager who guided Eintracht Frankfurt to the Europa League trophy at the expense of Rangers in 2022.
Leaving the German side a year later, the coach was a free agent and Rangers were linked in the press.
The manager also failed to rule out links when pressed on them later in the hunt.
But as Rangers pressed on with the impressive Philippe Clement, Oliver Glasner bided his time for a Premier League opportunity.
It came through Crystal Palace in February.
Impressing in his first few months at Selhurst Park, the Eagles are big fans of Glasner and apparently so are Bayern Munich.
The story goes that the Bundesliga giants, who've relinquished their 11-year reign at the top of German football to Xabi Alonso's electric Bayer Leverkusen, have considered Glasner.
But such is Crystal Palace's determination to keep the Austrian, TalkSPORT are claiming they want £86m (€100m) if Bayern's interest is serious.
It comes amid the German giants' struggle to replace the outgoing Thomas Tuchel, with the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Ralf Rangnick distancing themselves from the role.
Rangers manager has everything to prove
At least those sorts of valuations confirm that any Rangers interest in Oliver Glasner was always a long shot.
Not that we're convinced that a move for the Austrian would've been spectacularly different from Philippe Clement.
The Belgian manager has had some success at Ibrox, namely the League Cup, whilst any favour he gained shortening Celtic's Scottish Premiership lead disappeared when his team blew it.
Europa League Last 16 qualification was also a distinct positive.
But there remains some black marks surrounding the Belgian, whose inability to beat Celtic is hanging over him.
Whilst the League Cup was won without ever kicking a ball against our rivals, should he fail to deliver Scottish Cup success Clement will start next season on the back foot with everything to prove.
Even if the manager has had to contend with woeful luck on the injury front, there are also some criticisms of how Rangers are playing and our big game mettle.
Questionable team selections, where Clement has stuck with players who have been out of form or who have an eye on the exit door, also haven't helped.
Heading into a huge summer, it's not so much what might've been with Oliver Glasner over Philippe Clement.
But when one manager has questions being asked quietly in the background and the other is subject to £86m links to one of Europe's premier clubs, it certainly makes you wonder.
