Rangers will be busy in the summer but it was a surprise to see a goalkeeper named as a potential target when Arnaud Bodart’s name was mentioned yesterday.
A £3.4m deal was said to be in the pipeline for the Standard Liege stopper which would be a lot to pay with Jack Butland in the squad, unless, the Light Blues number one is on the move that is, although subsequent reports have cooled the link.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement will be fully aware of what his compatriot is capable of but so too will several members of the squad, with one of them coming under fire from Arnaud Bodart due to a previous encounter.
Rangers interest in Arnaud Bodart throws up old grudge
The Europa League in 2020/21 saw Steven Gerrard’s side paired with Standard in the group stages and there is one moment in particular that will always be remembered by fans and one player in particular.
Winning possession just outside Rangers box, Kemar Roofe then did something that will live long in the memory of the Europa League.
He beat one, then two Standard players, then another, then another.
Running out of steam on a pitch that would make Dens Park blush, Roofe then launched a perfectly weighted strike towards goal and over none other than Bodart’s head.
Just 22-years old at the time, it is a moment that the Belgian keeper will want to forget, however, after the match, he was far from happy with Roofe:
“That Kemar Roofe was happy to score is normal, we didn’t have a problem with that.
“But he ran across the pitch to provoke our supporters.
“He made a celebration sign just to taunt us. He didn’t have to do that.
“His behaviour was totally unacceptable.”
It might seem like a strange leap to make but, remember, Roofe played for Anderlecht before joining Rangers.
As the player explained though, his celebration wasn’t quite that contrived:
“With my fingers, I form the letters A and L after I score. That stands for the names of my daughters Alarnie and Luna. Every goal is for them. A striker must have a trademark.”
As it is, it looks like Roofe, who is one of six senior players whose contract is up in the summer, will be heading out the door at Ibrox.
An awkard reunion looks to have been avoided, if Rangers interest in Arnaud Bodert is accurate, that is.
