Gers raise the Roofe
Blues splash cash in stunning £8.5m swoop for strikers
RANGERS last night landed Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten in a twin striker swoop worth around £8.5million.
Ibrox chiefs secured Anderlecht forward Roofe and the Swiss hitkid from St Gallen on a whirlwind day of transfer activity. Roofe agreed a four-year contract after a
deal with the Belgian club was thrashed out.
The 27-year-old netted seven goals in 16 games during his one season in Brussels after moving from Leeds last summer.
The fee is undisclosed but Belgian sources believe the figure was under the £7m that Anderlecht paid United 12 months ago and closer to the £5m mark.
The striker said: “Rangers are a huge club with ambition and I know this is the right fit for me to progress my career.
“Things happened so quickly so it’s difficult to get a perspective of what’s really going on. But coming to the training ground to see the environment, seeing all the staff, you realise this is serious.
“As a footballer you want to keep testing yourself and you want to be playing at the biggest clubs possible. Now this is another step and it’s going to be incredible.
“I’ve asked some top players from the past about their experiences in Scotland and they all say playing against Rangers is one of the best games they’ve ever played in.”
Roofe can’t wait to play alongside Jermain Defoe and, speaking on Rangers TV, he added: “It’s exciting for anybody to work with someone like him with his experience and qualities.
“I’ve grown up watching him at Tottenham and in England, so hopefully I’m going to learn so much from him.”
No sooner had Roofe checked into Ibrox than Rangers got their hands on £3.5m-rated Swiss star Itten, who came in as former Ibrox loanee Florian Kamberi moves in the opposite direction.
The 23-year-old was targeted after a terrific campaign in the Super League saw him net an impressive 20 goals in 36 games for St Gallen to help clinch runners-up spot behind champions Young Boys.
Itten has also made a splash at international
level with three goals in
just two caps for the Swiss. The former Basel and Luzern kid had one year left on his current deal but Ibrox chiefs moved in with a four-year offer.
Gerrard, preparing his side for tomorrow’s Europa League clash with Bayer Leverkusen, said: “Kemar is recognised throughout Europe as an intelligent attacker with an eye for goal. I recognise his potential to further progress our starting XI.
“He has experienced the pressure and expectation at Leeds and has played on the continent, which will stand him in good stead for his time at Ibrox.
“Cedric is a goalscorer who will add further strength and depth to our squad. I’m pleased a player of his ability and potential has decided to join Rangers as he embarks in the next stage of his career.
“The fact we have announced two attacking options in the same day highlights our intent to bolster our squad as we begin the campaign.”
Itten revealed a rave review from a friend sold him on a move to Ibrox.
He said: “I have a friend who was at the Old Firm and he said the Rangers fans are really crazy in a really positive way.
“The club has a big name in Europe and won the championship 54 times. It’s a huge club and it’s a big pleasure for me to be here.”
The arrivals of Roofe and Itten look to signal the end of Alfredo Morelos’ three-year spell at Ibrox.
The Colombian has been targeted by Lille and the door now looks wide open for the French club to sign him if they can agree a fee with Rangers.