Rangers would be forced to pay around £9 million for Utrecht striker Anastosios ‘Tasos’ Douvikas and one Eredivisie reporter believes that the Greece international may be a little overpriced.
If the recent top-flight clash between FC Utrecht and Ajax showcased everything good about Tasos Douvikas – scoring a brilliant individual goal during a game in which he barely had a kick of the ball – De Telegraaf journalist Valentijn Driessen believes the recent Europa League play-off defeat to Sparta Rotterdam highlighted the ‘bad’
Douvikas scored in the first leg; his 22nd of the season.
That was, however, about his only contribution over the tie. He produced a more-than passable impression of the Invisible Man too as Utrecht lost on penalties yesterday, with Driessen of the opinion that £9 million is a fee not quite reflective of his actual ability.
Tasos Douvikas could be too expensive for Rangers
“FC Utrecht is holding on to the sale of top scorer Anastasios Douvikas for about 10 million euros,” Driessen explains.
“The Greek has had a good season. He scored nineteen (Eredivisie) goals. But remained invisible for 120 minutes in the return leg at Sparta. He’s not that good.
“But 10 million euros is nice for the bank balance.”
Either way, Rangers are unlikely to spend such a sum on a single player. Especially with so many areas of Mick Beale’s squad in need of reinforcement. According to reports coming out of Douvikas’ homeland, the Gers are unwilling to meet Aris’ £5 million asking-price for Luis Palma. Douvikas, the Eredivisie’s joint-Golden Boot winner (he shares the award with Xavi Simons), would cost almost twice as much.
Douvikas is still expected to leave Utrecht this summer. All three of the Eredivisie’s traditional giants – Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and new champions Feyenoord – should be in the market for a number nine.
“He has developed fantastically,” says Utrecht coach Michael Silberbauer. “And I believe he will get even better.”
