Rangers are set to raid one of last season’s Europa League rivals Royal Antwerp for talented young youth coach Zeb Jacobs as the Ibrox club’s backroom staff is overhauled.
Highly-rated Antwerp head of development Jacobs is reportedly a “tangible” target for the Ibrox club despite his young age of 26, according to Gazet van Antwerpen.
That report suggests that Rangers “pulls on the sleeve” of Belgian side Antwerp with Rangers hoping to complete the coach’s arrival soon.
Whilst the reports come at the same time as Giovanni van Bronckhorst takes over at Ibrox it is unclear what role Rangers see Zeb Jacobs fulfilling.
Rangers have added first-team coach Roy Makaay, fitness coach Arno Phillips and video analyst Yori Bosschart to the club’s staffing structure alongside van Bronckhorst.
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The Dutchman was clear that he hoped to add another assistant to the backroom staff at Ibrox with some conjecture still surrounding GVB’s traditional assistant Jean-Paul van Gastel.
However, it looks unlikely that a 26-year-old youth coach would fulfil the role of first-team assistant so it’s interesting to consider where Rangers are going with the potential appointment.
Rangers are also counting the cost of Steven Gerrard’s exit as he takes Gary McAllister, Michael Beale, Jordan Milsom, Tom Culshaw, and Scott Mason with him.
That’s seven bodies out of the door with only four coming in and the club are surely on the hunt for talent to replace those figures who’ve left the club.
However, absolutely nowhere in the Belgian report is Giovanni van Bronckhorst mentioned.
Zeb Jacobs links come after sudden Rangers exit of Graeme Murty
The news also comes after Rangers announced the departure of head of elite academy development Graeme Murty.
Murty, lauded by fans, leaves the club after five years with Rangers – which included a stint as caretaker manager – and given Jacobs’ role at the Great Old it may have some fans asking the question regarding a potential youth role.
However, as things stand there is nothing concrete from Rangers and at the moment it remains unclear what vision the club have for the young Belgian coach.
As the Gers continue their hunt for first-team coaching talent the club could also be boosted by the financial predicament of the club at which one of their reported targets currently works.