One-time Rangers target Danilo Doekhi is now a transfer target for Serie A champions Napoli as the Scudetto winners prepare to lose Kim Min-Jae to Bayern Munich.
The former Vitesse Arnhem captain would certainly have big shoes to fill at the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona. Kim, according to former Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti, established himself as arguably the finest centre-half in world football last term, and his £40 million move to Bayern Munich means a replacement will be required.
Napoli failed with a big-money bid for Wolves’ Max Kilman over the weekend (The Athletic).
The alternative, meanwhile, is a player who was offered a three-year deal at Rangers back in 2021 before opting to join Union Berlin on a free transfer instead.
“I know that Doekhi is on Napoli’s list,” agent Seraino Dalgliesh tells CRC. “We’ll see what happens when Kim’s transfer goes through.”
Rangers’ loss could be Napoli’s gain
Doekhi was outstanding as Union Berlin secured Champions League qualification for the first time in their history last season. The towering centre-half even scored six goals in all competitions; a massive presence in both boxes.
And the opportunity to make a name for himself in one of Europe’s top-five leagues was obviously one too good for Doekhi to ignore, rebuffing Rangers’ advances in favour of a move to the German capital.
“Of course, I get the rumours (linking me) Rangers,” Doekhi said. “I am flattered. Scotland is passion. (Rangers) follow me. But there are several clubs (who are interested).”
With a move to Napoli now on the cards, even the most hard-nosed Rangers supporter would argue that Doekhi made the wrong call.
Mick Beale’s Glasgow giants, meanwhile, could now pursue another talented young centre-half; Gambia starlet Dembo Saidykhan reportedly on the radar (Daily Mail).
“He proved at the U20 African Cup of Nations and at the U20 World Cup that he is one of the world’s greatest defensive talents in his age group. He had some great matches,” Saidykhan’s agent, Sacha Empacher, explains.
“We are looking for a place where he can take the next step.”
