Rangers-linked Heerenveen midfielder Joey Veerman has missed out on Louis van Gaal’s first provisional 23-man squad since the manager returned to the Netherlands job.
The legendary boss might be 70, but van Gaal has been tasked with turning Dutch fortunes around after a disappointing exit to the Czech Republic in the last 16 of Euro 2020.
The ex-Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United manager replaces former Rangers defender Frank de Boer in the post but there is no place for Veerman in the squad.
Instead Donny van de Beek, Ryan Gravenberch, Siem de Jong, Davy Klassen, Teun Koopmeiners, Martin de Roon, Guus Til and Gini Wijnaldum make up a competitive midfield.
This will come as a significant blow to Veerman, 22, who has repeatedly made it clear that he wants to take the next step in his career this summer be it at home or abroad and remains without a Netherlands cap.
“It’s just what kind of club comes along,” said Veerman [Daily Record]. “I think it will be very difficult in the Netherlands, so there’s only one thing to do.”
The playmaker has been linked to the likes of PSV, Ajax, Feyenoord, Atalanta, Verona and Rangers this summer but so far no one has met Heerenveen’s asking price.
The Gers have reportedly put forward a £7m package [Glasgow Times] but after exiting the Champions League it remains unclear if the club is still in pursuit of the midfielder.
Veerman is contracted to Heerenveen for the next three seasons and it’s clear that the Eredivisie club have no interest in selling him for under their valuation, believed to be around the £8m mark.
Rangers have ambitions to tie down one of their own midfielders currently at the club with one journalist claiming this could be the Veerman interest on the “back burner”.