Anastosios ‘Tasos’ Douvikas admits he is likely to leave Eredivisie outfit FC Utrecht amid claims that Rangers are interested in the Greek international striker.
When Sam Lammers became Rangers’ first centre-forward signing of a hectic summer earlier this week, the expectation was that Cyriel Dessers – another former Dutch league marksman currently plying his trade in Serie A – would not be far behind.
Dessers, the former Feyenoord talisman, is reportedly keen on moving to Ibrox.
But with Rangers yet to meet Cremonese’s hefty demands – the Glasgow giants have already seen a £3 million bid rejected – the prospect of Mick Beale turning his attention to an alternative cannot be discounted (Rangers Review).
Matija Frigan, Jerry Yates and Josh Maja, a free-agent in just two weeks’ time, remain potential back-up options.
Ditto Tasos Douvikas; although, with Galatasaray reportedly submitting a £7 million offer this week, the man who shared the Eredivisie’s Golden Boot in 2022/23 would test the very limits of Rangers’ budget.
Rangers linked Tasos Douvikas plans to leave the Eredivisie
“I want to be part of the European elite one day,” Douvikas tells Voetbal International; expressing his interest in a fresh start away from Enschede.
“Then, sometimes you have to take a step forward, (and) get started in a bigger league. The chance that I will leave this summer is greater than that I will stay.
“But everyone will understand that. I want to get to the top. I have to get to the top.”
23-year-old Douvikas finished the campaign with 22 goals in 38 games. Only Xavi Simons, reportedly a target of Rangers during Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s time in charge at Ibrox, managed to keep up with him in the Dutch top-flight.
“I was not so obsessed with that top scorer’s title,” Douvikas adds.
“If I had scored 16 or 17, I would have been satisfied. The most important thing is that my basic level has risen. That was what I wanted to do.”
TEAMtalk say that, amid rather tenuous reports linking Douvikas with Celtic, interest from the other side of the Old Firm divide is ‘genuine’.
