Danny Rohl taking positives from transfer interest in key Rangers players

Danny Rohl is treating interest in key Rangers players as a “positive” as he gets set to draw the curtain on a negative Europa League campaign.

It was reported that Fenerbahce have had a £13m bid for 21-year-old striker Youssef Chermiti rejected by Rangers, who have also knocked back a loan-to-buy bid from Monaco for 22-year-old winger Djeidi Gassama in a deal in excess of £10m.

Ahead of the Europa League dead rubber against Porto in Portugal on Thursday night, Rohl said: “First we take the positive that other clubs are interested in our players, but on the other side we will keep our best players.

“We have big goals this season and we’re in two competitions and we need our best players.

“We spoke about wanting to strengthen our squad and not make it weaker.

“We are very clear about what we want to do.”

Rohl believes the days before the transfer window close will be “a little bit crazy” as he looks for an ideal undisclosed squad number but first he wants his players to show a “nasty” side to their character against Porto with the emphasis on “a clean sheet”.

The German coach has dragged Rangers back into the William Hill Premiership title race since taking over from Russell Martin in October.

However, Europe has been a disaster this season and they sit in 31st place out of 36 teams in the league phase going into the final fixture against a side who are in ninth place with 14 points and already through to the knockout stages.

Rohl said: “I have a number in my head, that’s the most important thing.

“Andrew (Cavenagh, chairman) knows it, the recruitment team knows it.

“This is clear. The next three or four days will be a little bit crazy.

“There will be some moments where you think you will have a yes, then maybe not.

“But all in all, by the end of the window, we should have a good number of players ready for the second half of the season.

“I will be happy when the window closes and then we can focus on our games and focus on the group.

“My players are doing really well at the moment and we have done well to ignore all the rumours that are surrounding some of my players.

“We know the next weeks are going to be crucial to get points, different competitions and that starts tomorrow against Porto.

“But we’re not coming here just to be a guest. We want to be a nasty guest, a nasty opponent and we want to try and get something here.”

Chermiti has returned from illness, Dujon Sterling is back training, Danilo is away to welcome an impending baby and Joe Rothwell has small problems but nothing serious.

Three new January signings – Denmark winger Andreas Skov Olsen, Danish midfielder Tochi Chukwuani, and Belgian left-back Tuur Rommens – are ineligible.