Russell Martin could come up against a familiar face next week but it’s really not in the manner in which he’d have hoped
Russell Martin could face one of his old charges and a recent Rangers transfer target in a £40million Champions League play-off shoot-out.
The Ibrox side are favourites to set up a tie against Club Brugge for a place in the lucrative league phase of UEFA’s premier competition.
And the Belgian side, leading 1-0 in the first leg of their tie against Salzburg, are closing in on a deal for Samuel Edozie – a player who played under the Light Blues boss at Southampton.
Rangers tried to sign the English winger on loan last season when Philippe Clement was in charge, only for the move to collapse at the eleventh hour, and Martin was also linked with him after taking the Ibrox job.
But it’s last season when Rangers reportedly “pulled the plug” at the eleventh hour and Martin, in charge at St Mary’s at the time, pointed the finger at the Ibrox club. He said: “What frustrated me was how late it fell through and it wasn’t on our end.
“It’s a bit unfair to Sam really. It’s a bit disappointing but it is what it is. Every club has their prerogative and their priorities in the transfer window. I was gutted for Sam because it was too late to then find another opportunity to go and play football.”
The former Manchester City kid, who has played in Belgium before after a loan spell at Anderlecht and registered four goals and six assists in 32 games in all competitions, could now be returning to the Jupiler Pro League.
Club Brugge want him and Southampton are looking for a fee of around £8million. He was left out of Will Still’s Saints squad for their Championship opener against Wrexham at the weekend.
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