With new reports that (former) Rangers target Gjis Smal is to leave Twente with a ‘take it or leave it’ contract offer from his current employer, it muddies the Rangers water a little.

Or does it?

These Dutch reports may well be immaterial, even if they are true, given it appears that the threat of Turk Ridvan Yilmaz leaving seems to have massively reduced, while Borna Barisic remains likely to be offered a new contract.

Ergo, the circa 400 left backs Rangers have been linked to in this window arguably don’t matter – Ridvan is absolutely performing, having finally secured his place, while Borna is a more than able deputy, getting on as he is now at 31-years-old.

Philippe Clement rates both players, but with the issues surrounding both men’s futures the club was very much eying up potential replacements for either or even both.

And Smal was one such, along with Liverpool’s Owen Beck and Benfica’s David Jurasek.

But now that Ridvan seems to have settled into first pick at the back, while Borna appears to be returning from injury, Rangers are pretty strong in that slot.

With those two pushing for a place, raising the game of the other, Philippe Clement must be fairly content with his options there.

Keeping Ridvan is a big deal, if that is achieved. There’s still 11 days left of the window and anything can happen, but the Turk’s previous desire to leave seems to have reduced hugely, and he has not asked to leave, unlike what notoriously fibbing Turkish press would tell you.

Alongside the veteran Croat, Rangers have two impressive options at left back and quite honestly we can’t say, if we keep both, that we’d need anyone else there.