Utrecht have accepted that they may need to sell Anastosios ‘Tasos’ Douvikas as Rangers prepare to do battle with a number of Eredivisie giants for the Golden Boot-sharing striker.
On the final day of the Dutch football season, Rangers targets past and present ended up sharing the top scorer award.
PSV Eindhoven talisman Xavi Simons – a player Giovanni van Bronckhorst reportedly wanted at Ibrox back in 2022 – finished on 19 goals. Level with Anastosios Douvikas; the first Utrecht player ever to claim the Eredivisie’s Golden Boot.
Will Anastosios Douvikas be Rangers’ new striker?
Needless to say, the Greece international will not be easily replaced at Utrecht.
According to TEAMtalk, Rangers have a ‘genuine’ interest in the 23-year-old poacher, with Dutch publication AD suggesting that Sunday’s 3-2 win over Emmen was likely to be Douvikas’ final top-flight appearance in Utrecht colours.
MORE RANGERS STORIES
“It is always a double-edged sword,” director Jordy Zuidam tells ESPN. “Of course, you want to keep the player for longer. But we also know that we need sales.
“That is part of healthy business. We have to sell for at least twelve million euros every year, just like next season.”
Douvikas is reportedly valued in the region of £6 million. Zuidam did not confirm or deny such claims. But he did admit that the 6ft 1ins, Athens-born marksman would only leave the Stadio Galgenwaard for a substantial sum.
“The value of a player is difficult to estimate, but we really want to keep him,” Zuidam adds. “If he leaves, it will definitely be for a top prize.”
Rangers brought the curtain down on their own campaign with a 3-0 hammering of St Mirren on Sunday. The outstanding Fashion Sakala notched a pair of eye-catching individual finishes, while Antonio Colak came off the bench to nod home a typically predatory header on what could be his final appearance for the Scottish Premiership outfit.
According to the Scottish Sun, Colak could leave after just one admittedly-prolific season in Ibrox.