Glasgow Rangers were certainly busy in the transfer window this summer, welcoming no less than 10 new signings at Ibrox.
Philippe Clement has been backed at Rangers this summer, and the likes of Mohamed Diomande and Robin Propper have gone straight into his starting eleven.
Although, those recruits haven’t yielded immediate success after Rangers’ disappointing performance and result in the Old Firm shortly before the international break.
That being said, it seems as if the Gers did leave one more deal on the table this summer, they weren’t quite able to conclude one move with Manchester City.
Rangers were lined up to sign Jadel Katongo from Manchester City this summer
After signing defender Jadel Katongo on loan from Manchester City this summer, Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony has now shared that the 19-year-old was meant to be heading to Rangers.
Speaking on ‘The Hard Truth’ podcast, the League One chairman said that Katongo came to Peterborough saying that his move to Scotland had just fallen through.
Clik here to view.
MacAnthony explained: “I worked on the Jadel deal the day before in the UAE before deadline day. We wanted Jadel all summer but got told all summer he was going to the top of the Champ or potentially Scotland, I think it was Rangers he was potentially going to.
“We kept in with Man City and were trying to acquire a fourth centre half. None of the ones which were thrown at us or were on the table, none of us loved.
“There was nobody we wanted to buy yet so I said to the manager pretty much three weeks before the end of the window let’s sit on it until deadline day, and if we have to we will go and get one of the kids we have identified from the bigger Premier League clubs.
“But Scarfie [Peterborough assistant] got a call off Jadel the day before, saying the Scotland move was off and then Man City came on to us and said look let’s try and work something out.
“We had to pay a lot more than last year’s wages, but I approved the deal the night before [deadline day].”
Katongo looked ready for the next step after Peterborough success
Given his move to Rangers fell through, Katongo will now spend another season on loan in League One with Peterborough.
The defender was also on loan at the club last season playing 43 games across the season.
In terms of his positional profile, the 19-year-old is also able to step out to right-back or play as a defensive midfielder when needed.
And perhaps this does represent an opportunity missed for Clement and his team, who evidently felt as if a big squad overhaul was needed.
But on this occasion, Rangers’ loss is Peterborough’s gain.