Rangers Weigh January Recall for Oscar Cortes as Playing-Time Fears Grow at Sporting Gijon

Rangers may be preparing to intervene in Oscar Cortes’ loan spell sooner than expected, with reports from Spain suggesting the Scottish giants are considering recalling the winger in January due to his lack of involvement at Sporting Gijon.

The Colombian’s move to Spain was intended to provide a full season of regular competitive football, but the arrangement has so far fallen short of expectations—and patience in the Ibrox boardroom appears to be wearing thin.

Cortes, who joined Rangers from Lens earlier this year, was sent on loan at the end of the summer window with hopes that consistent minutes in the Segunda División would accelerate his development. Instead, the 21-year-old has found himself on the periphery of manager Miguel Ángel Ramírez’s plans.

Since arriving in September, he has managed just 190 minutes of football, starting only once and featuring predominantly in short cameo appearances.

That lack of involvement has become a growing concern not only for Rangers but also within the player’s own camp. Cortes was viewed as one of the most promising attacking talents in South America when he first broke through at Millonarios, and Rangers’ coaching staff have long believed he has the potential to become an “outstanding” asset in the long term. However, without steady playing time, his development risks stagnating.

Gijon’s recent team selections have heightened the issue. Cortes has remained an unused substitute in six of the club’s last eight league fixtures, suggesting a significant gap between what Rangers expected from the loan and what is actually unfolding.

His six total appearances have yet to yield a goal or an assist, further amplifying questions about whether the environment is the right one for him at this stage of his career.

With the January window approaching, Rangers are now assessing their options. A clause in the loan agreement reportedly gives them the ability to recall the winger mid-season if his minutes fall below an agreed threshold.

While the club have not publicly commented on the situation, sources close to the Spanish side indicate that discussions about his future have already begun behind the scenes.

A return to Glasgow would allow Philippe Clement and his staff to reassess how best to reintegrate Cortes into the first-team picture or potentially arrange an alternative loan where the likelihood of consistent game time is higher.

With Rangers competing on multiple fronts and seeking greater depth in wide areas, a mid-season recall could even strengthen their squad for the title run-in.

For now, both clubs will monitor the situation closely—but unless Cortes’ involvement at Gijon improves dramatically in the coming weeks, all signs point toward an early end to his Spanish adventure.