Rangers and any other club interested in signing Kevin van Veen in January have been told the striker can leave Groningen if a suitable offer is made.
The 32-year-old hitman was a revelation for Motherwell last season, netting 29 goals in all competitions and winning a spot in the PFA Scotland team of the year.
Van Veen was also nominated for the PFA player of the year award as a result of his incredible form in front of goal, which ultimately cost Motherwell as they reluctantly sold Van Veen to Groningen.
The £500k move to the Dutch second tier side has not worked out for the better, however. He has just five goals in 14 games and hasn’t featured for Groningen since November 24.
Van Veen’s wife still resides in Scotland and after she gave birth to his child recently, he was granted ‘indefinite’ period of paternal leave to be with her and his newborn kid.
It came after Van Veen told The Scottish Sun that Rangers were keeping an eye on him before making the switch to Groningen. And now, the Ibrox side are on alert after comments made by the Dutch side’s sports director.
Rangers on Kevin van Veen alert
As quoted in the Daily Record, Wouter Gudde has said that Van Veen will be allowed to leave Groningen in Januray. However, a suitable bid must be lodged before the club consider selling.
Gudde said: “I talk to Kevin on the phone almost every day and if there is interest because he is not playing, we will listen.
“If another club makes a concrete offer and the solution is good, we will cooperate with his departure. In principle of course, he is welcome to return to the club when we return to training on January 3 too.”
Clearly Groningen’s stance has shifted on Van Veen because at the end of November, boss Dick Lukkien was on record saying he’d like the frontman to stay put in January.
All roads now seem destined towards a Van Veen exit from Groningen, which wouldn’t cost Rangers an arm and a leg if they wanted to revive their interest in the Dutchman.
At 32, he isn’t a long-term solution but could be fantastic stop-gap amid our current striking department injuries.
