The first day of pre-season could be interesting at Auchenhowie.
Hidden amongst the Europa League build up was the news that Rangers are considering a move for former Motherwell centre-half Cedric Kipre, the player responsible for Ryan Jack’s injury issues over the last few seasons.
The Birmingham Mail claims that the 25-year old is being allowed to leave West Brom for £1million, and that interest in Calvin Bassey added to Connor Goldson’s probably departure is the reason for our interest.
In 2018 Jack was adamant that the towering defender set out to injure him with a late tackle that went unpunished by the referee in his first season at the club:
“It was a shocking tackle. Kipre waited until I got the ball and then he knew he had a chance to hurt me and he did.
“I’ve watched it back and it is not nice. It’s never nice to watch back and see yourself get injured.
“I knew straight away I was injured and I knew I was in a bit of bother.”
Kipre is a good player in that he would have been a decent signing when he left Motherwell to go to Wigan Athletic, his season in Scottish football was a successful one and he shares similar qualities to Bassey, although my biggest concern would be that we need to find a centre-half who can organise the defence if Goldson does leave.
Ironically, Kipre would probably have been a good partner for Goldson but we could well see an entirely new pairing at the heart of our defence when next season kicks off, I’d love to be a fly on the wall in the dressing room if the big Ivorian joins mind, I don’t think Ryan Jack is the sort of player to hide his emotions.