Rangers To ‘Lose’ £4.5M of Summer Budget On Oscar Cortes After Farce Call | OneFootball

Rangers have some significant decisions to make this summer and while there has been a lot of noise about potential incomings the real challenges may well lie in the deals already done. There is an underlying financial implication at Ibrox that is starting to attract more attention and a certain forgotten man is now right back under the spotlight. Fans may remember the promise shown earlier this year and recent reports have hinted that the financial reality of one particular move is far more impactful than previously considered.

That man is Oscar Cortes. The Colombian winger was initially brought in on loan from Lens but there was always an obligation to buy if certain clauses were met. It is now widely accepted that Rangers are on the hook for £4.5M for the attacker and this figure is set to come out of the summer budget for the 2025 transfer window. Cortes has barely kicked a ball for the club after sustaining a long term injury and the optics of this investment are not especially favourable. Rangers fans are rightly questioning the logic of paying such a sum for a player who has not featured significantly since arriving.

The winger was expected to offer flair and creativity out wide but his absence through injury means Philippe Clement has been unable to rely on him. Rangers are building a squad that can challenge for the Scottish Premiership title and a significant part of that rebuild has to involve reliable players who can contribute regularly. Cortes unfortunately has not been able to do that. With £4.5M now ringfenced for a player recovering from injury Rangers’ options in the market may be more restricted than many hoped.

This move may also shape how the club approaches future deals involving purchase obligations. Ibrox bosses will need to assess whether risk mitigation strategies can be improved for similar cases. For now the attention remains on whether Oscar Cortes will be fit enough to justify the outlay. The Colombian’s talent is not in doubt but Rangers need him to get back on the pitch and start delivering or that £4.5M obligation could become an expensive lesson.