Rangers are preparing for the second leg of the Champions League qualification clash with Club Brugge. Russell Martin’s team are currently 3-1 down to the Belgian side following a catastrophic opening 20 minutes in the first leg.

Ahead of the tie, Russell Martin spoke about how Rangers still have hope of progressing in the competition: “This game is very much alive, and the tie is very much alive in our eyes.

“The guys ran more in the last game against Brugge than they have done for pretty much two years at this football club. They’re willing to run for us, they’re willing to work for us. At the minute, we have a little bit of inconsistency in selection, trying to find a rhythm, trying to find a way, but things will settle down very soon.”

Martin’s side needs to score at least two goals, but they will be without one of last season’s top three goal-scorers as a Ligue 1 side have triggered the player’s release clause.

Lille bid for Igamane accepted

Rangers have accepted a bid from French side Lille for Moroccan forward Hamza Igamane. The French side have placed a bid worth £10.5 million, which is equal to the release clause in his contract.

Igamane looked set to leave after he claimed to be unable to come off the bench in the Scottish Premiership match against St Mirren due to an injury. The 22-year-old joined Rangers last summer for just under £3 million and has registered 19 goal involvements in 49 appearances for the club.

The 49ers have brought in a number of attacking players this summer, such as Oliver Antman and Thelo Aasgaard, but have yet to sign a new striker. However, the club does still have Cyriel Dessers and Danilo available to play up front.

Last season, Igamane was praised by talent scouts for his impressive skills, with Ben Mattinson describing him as, “completely unpredictable, tonnes of flair and trickery. The type of player to try outrageous moves/shots just because”.

However, his stock among Rangers fans has drastically fallen over the summer transfer window as the player has made it clear he wants out.

Where it went wrong for Martin and Igamane

Earlier in the window, Igamane was linked with a move to Everton, who were looking to increase their attacking firepower, but that move did not materialise. Due to this, the forward appears to have taken drastic measures to force a move out of the club.

During Sunday’s 1-1 draw with St Mirren, Igamane was called off the bench but refused, claiming to have an injury. If this injury was known prior to the match, he almost certainly would not have been selected for the squad, leading many to believe that it was a stunt to push through a move away from the club.

Speaking ahead of the Champions League fixture, Martin was more open about the topic, saying that Igamane “got what he wanted”.

The situation between Igamane and Rangers clearly became un-salvageable following the strikers’ actions, and the test for the 49ers and Martin will be if they can use their newfound funds before the transfer window closes.