AT the DOUBLE
Rangers bring in Roofe and Itten for £6m
RANGERS last night completed a £6million striker swoop for Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten.
Roofe was first through the door on a day of significant spending as the Ibrox side bolstered their options and took steps to prepare for the prospect of Alfredo Morelos exiting. The adaptable former Leeds United forward signed a four-year contract in Glasgow following fresh negotiations. Neither club disclosed the fee for Roofe but it is thought to be around £3.5m. Itten (left) is believed to have cost in the region of £2.5m and has also signed until 2024. A 23-year-old Swiss international, he adds a physically powerful option to Steven Gerrard’s armoury after scoring 20 goals for St Gallen last season. The transfers were finalised as the rest of the Ibrox squad flew to Germany ahead of tomorrow evening’s
Europa League last 16 second leg against Bayer Leverkusen, for which neither newcomer is eligible.
Morelos was among the travelling party but speculation over his future will inevitably intensify given yesterday’s developments. Lille could now return to the table for the Colombian after an initial approach worth up to £15m was rejected, while reports in France claim Sassuolo, Sevilla and Brighton also have an interest in the 24-year-old.
Rangers are also in the market for a midfielder, but progress on a £3.5m move for South African international Bongani Zungu of Amiens is thought to have stalled in recent days.
Gerrard has added seven players so far this summer, with the signings of Jermain Defoe, Jon McLaughlin, Calvin Bassey, Ianis Hagi and Leon Balogun preceding yesterday’s twin arrivals.
Roofe had been on Rangers’ radar since his successful time at Elland Road, but the 27-year-old switched to Anderlecht 12 months ago in a £5m transfer.
Injuries interrupted his progress in Brussels and he expressed delight at returning to the UK.
Roofe also insisted he was ready to handle the pressure that comes with a huge season, as the Ibrox side seek to stop Celtic winning a tenth successive title.
‘You prepare every day at the training ground and you play your normal game,’ he told Rangers TV. ‘For me, I play football and live life only thinking about the things I can control. If I can’t control it then I don’t need to worry about it. But also, the pressure can bring the best out in people.
‘I’ve asked some top players from the past about their experiences in Scotland. They always say playing against Rangers is one of the best games they’ve ever played in. And they have played in many different games around the world, for their countries and in international games.
‘I am delighted to join. Rangers are a huge club with ambition and I know this is the right fit for me to progress my career. I am looking forward to experiencing Ibrox and I am excited to play in Europe.
‘Things have happened so quickly that it’s difficult to get perspective of what’s really going on.
‘But going to the training ground, and seeing the environment and all the staff, makes me realise this is seriously a big place.
‘The main goal is to win and get success again. As a footballer you want to keep testing yourself. You want to be playing at the biggest clubs possible. ‘In my past I’ve been blessed to be able to play in front of the Leeds fans and the Anderlecht fans. Now this is another step and it’s going to be incredible.’ Roofe left Leeds 12 months before they completed a long-awaited return to the English Premier League under the guidance of Marcelo Bielsa this summer. Asked if that deepened his desire for success at Rangers, he added: ‘Yes but when I play football it’s already in me to win games. I want to be a winner regardless of missing out on success at Leeds or not. I still have that drive in me.’ Aberdeen striker Ryan Edmondson last night backed Roofe to be a smash hit at Rangers, with the pair former team-mates at Elland Road.
But despite being an admirer of the influential striker, the new Dons frontman hopes to have the upper hand against his old friend when Aberdeen next face Rangers at Ibrox on November 21.
‘Roofie is an unbelievable player,’ said Edmondson. ‘I trained with him a lot at Leeds United and I learned so much from him.
‘I was only 16 or 17 when he first arrived at the club, so being able to partner him in training and watch what he did really brought me on.
‘He helped me develop, along with Patrick Bamford, so I owe the pair of them a lot.
‘I actually replaced Roofie when I made my debut for Leeds, which is a day I will always remember because I’m a Leeds fan and I was a season-ticket holder.
‘He came up from Oxford to Leeds and he made a big impact at Elland Road, so I think he will have a major impact on the league here too.
‘He’s not the biggest of guys, but he’s a strong guy who is very technically gifted. His intelligence and his finishing are great, and he made a good impact at Anderlecht as well when he went over there.
‘He just scores goals. He is a born goalscorer and I think he will do very well up in Scotland.
‘He’s the kind of player who will be successful wherever he goes but hopefully next time Aberdeen come up against him we can do a job on him.’
Itten declared himself ready to hit the ground running in the Ibrox title bid after scoring a 31-minute hat-trick for St Gallen in his farewell appearance against Neuchatel Xamax last Friday.
He could make his Rangers debut at Ibrox against St Mirren on Sunday.
‘I feel really fit and I’m happy to be here and continue with the team,’ he said.
‘This is a big club and one that plays in Europe with a big name. They have won the championship 54 times. It’s such a huge club and a big pleasure for me to be here.’