AliousRangers are on course to commit a significant financial outlay for a player who has yet to make a meaningful contribution on the pitch, with Oscar Cortés’s future at Ibrox becoming a growing concern among fans and pundits alike.
The Colombian winger, brought in on loan from French club RC Lens with an obligation to buy, has seen his time in Glasgow blighted by recurring injuries. Despite initially impressing upon arrival, Cortés has managed just nine appearances and a mere 271 minutes of action this season, once again sidelined for much of the campaign due to fitness issues.
Mounting Criticism Over Transfer Strategy
BBC Sport Scotland’s chief writer Tom English did not hold back in his assessment, describing the looming permanent deal for Cortés as a potential “expensive mistake.” Speaking on Sportsound, English said: “I’d like clarity on it, but from what I’m hearing, Rangers are obliged to buy Cortés for a significant fee. This is a player who has essentially contributed nothing this season.”
He pointed to a wider problem at Ibrox—questionable recruitment and a squad filled with players who, in his view, are simply not at the required level. “There are too many who aren’t good enough, and I don’t believe they ever will be,” he said. “The focus must now be on restructuring this team properly. Yes, Europe has been admirable—but it’s domestic dominance that matters most, and they’re miles off right now.”
A Deal Already in Motion
Despite the criticism, Rangers already appear committed to the winger long-term. The club announced last summer that Cortés had joined on a one-year loan deal with a binding obligation to make the move permanent in 2025. Once that kicks in, he’ll be tied to a four-year contract running until 2029.
Rangers’ summer statement was optimistic in tone, highlighting Cortés’s early promise before his injury setback. Then-recruitment chief Nils Koppen said: “Oscar’s Rangers career started brightly. He showed technical skill, pace, and a threat in front of goal. His injury was unfortunate, but we still believe he can play an important role once fully fit.”
However, recent events have cast doubt on whether the investment will ever yield the hoped-for returns. Cortés was substituted at half-time during a frustrating draw with Aberdeen, further underscoring the concerns about his impact.
A Squad in Transition
With uncertainty swirling over the club’s managerial future following their Europa League exit at the hands of Athletic Bilbao, and several key contracts—including those of Ianis Hagi, Tom Lawrence, and Leon Balogun—set to expire, Rangers face a pivotal summer. The club must now navigate a prospective takeover by the San Francisco 49ers’ investment arm, balance rebuilding efforts, and make shrewd decisions to avoid more costly missteps like the Cortés situation.
As things stand, unless fortunes drastically change, the Colombian winger risks becoming emblematic of a transfer strategy gone awry—one that Rangers can ill afford to repeat as they try to re-establish domestic superiority.
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