Rangers reportedly held an interest in bringing Ludwig Francillette to Ibrox.
According to L’Equipe, as relayed by The Chronicle, Rangers wanted to sign defender Ludwig Francillette, but missed out to Newcastle United.
The Gers landed two new centre backs this summer, first signing talented youngster George Edmundson from Rangers before splashing the cash on Bolonga ace Filip Helander.
With Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic in the mix too, Rangers have a great set of central defenders to worth with – but appear to have missed out on another this summer.
Claims in French media suggest that Rangers were keen on French talent Francillette, who was a complete unknown before suddenly being catapulted into the spotlight.
The 20-year-old was playing in the ninth division of French football with AS Quetigny, but coach Guy Ipoua – formerly of Gillingham and Scunthorpe United among others – was keen to get him into the British game.
A trial with St Mirren followed, but Ipoua told Newcastle to move quickly as Rangers were keen too, and they managed to get the towering defender signed up for their Under-23 side.
It’s quite remarkable that Francillette – an unknown defender with no Wikipedia page and no Transfermarkt page – has been plucked from the ninth division of France to suddenly being wanted by two massive British clubs.
Rangers would have surely wanted him for their development ranks, just as Newcastle have, and whilst barely anybody had heard of him before the start of the season, it will be now be fascinating to see how he develops on Tyneside.
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