Rangers have snubbed Romania's efforts to call up Ianis Hagi for the Olympics in a bid, according to reports in the star's homeland.
National team boss Mirel Radoi wants the Ibrox star as part of his squad for the Games in Tokyo but the Light Blues have refused permission to ensure he's available for their Champions League quest.
Steven Gerrard's title-winners kick off at the third qualifying round stage with the first on August 3/4 - the same time as the semi-finals of the Olympics football tournament with the final on August 7.
Hagi has been named by Radoi - also boss of the Romania full national team - for Japan with Romania handed a favourable group draw alongside New Zealand, South Korea and Honduras.
But the energy-sapping trip at a crucial time in the season - it starts 10 days before the start of the July 31 Scottish Premiership kick off - would hamper Gers.
The 22-year-old has been a key member of Gerrard's squad and netted in the 3-0 win over Livingston in midweek for his ninth goal of the season.
Rangers will already be without striker Kemar Roofe and midfielder Glen Kamara who are both banned for the qualifiers following that explosive Europa League match with Slavia Prague.
Reports in Romania have indicated Rangers are one of four clubs who have refused to release their players - clubs don't have to allow players to go after a recent FIFA directive.
Italian club Cagliari have also refused to release Razvan Marin, Rangers' nemesis Slavia Prague won't allow Nicolae Stanciu to travel and Inter Milan have said no to Ionut Radu going to Tokyo.
Radoi said: "It is pleasing that both the players in the squad based here and from abroad all want to play for us in the tournament.
"Unfortunately, it does not depend on them and we already had some refusals from the clubs.
"There will be negotiations with them. We will try to find a window as accessible as possible for everyone, because there are matches every three days.
"The problem is that it coincides with the preliminary rounds of the European competitions and that's a major problem.
"Of course I don't like it, but we will have to make a decision soon and go with the best available to us."
Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard is in a similar position after it was revealed he could miss up to four of Celtic's Champions League qualifiers if the Frenchman remains at Parkhead.
