Royal Antwerp manager Franky Vercauteren has made a transfer plea to his club’s board in advance of their Europa League Round of 32 tie with Rangers [Daily Record].
Vercauteren only took charge of Antwerp earlier this month, following the departure of previous boss Ivan Leko to Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG in December.
Since his appointment, results have been mixed, with wins over Gent and Cercle Brugge followed by a defeat to KV Oostende at the weekend.
Remarkably, Antwerp are third in the Belgian First Division A despite winning less than half of their 23 matches so far this season.
Yet, ahead of their Europa League test against the Gers in February, Vercauteren is asking for signings.
“I’ve been on to the board to try and work out ways we can get some reinforcements in as soon as possible,” he said [Daily Record]. “We need to bring in players who will improve the squad.”
“We have a really tough schedule coming up with the Europa League games against Rangers as well as a busy league campaign going on too.”
Rangers will be looking to at least match last season’s run to the Last 16 and in Antwerp, they have received a relatively kind draw.
The Great Old have lost eight times in the league alone this season while the Gers are unbeaten both in the Premiership and in Europe, so right now, they’ll fancy their chances.
A few high profile signings could give the opposition a lift before the tie, though, so the Gers will be wary if Vercauteren gets his way.
A reported Rangers transfer target scored against Antwerp on Saturday afternoon after dropping a possible Ibrox transfer hint on social media earlier in the month.