Gijs Smal may have rebuffed Rangers’ advances with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the FC Twente left-back turned down moves away from the Eredivisie before settling on champions Feyenoord.
After being heavily linked with a move to the blue side of Glasgow since the turn of the year, it looks all-but certain that Gijs Smal will still be plying his trade in the Netherlands next term, albeit for Feyenoord rather than FC Twente.
The talented left-back is expected to join the Rotterdam giants when his contract expires in July. And, while opting to extend his stay in his homeland, Smal turned down offers ‘from abroad’, Rangers one of a number of clubs who were taking a look at a man who finished top of the Eredivisie’s assist charts in 2022/23.
Rangers set to miss out on Gijs Smal
“The agreement between Feyenoord and Gijs Smal to join as free agent in the summer is almost done, despite no formal confirmation from player side yet,” the uber-reliable Fabrizio Romano writes on X.
“Verbal pact in place and soon (it will be) time to sign the contract. Smal turned down a proposal from abroad to join Feyenoord.”
With the 26-year-old seemingly no longer off the market, Rangers will have to shift their focus elsewhere in pursuit of a left-back capable of stepping into Borna Barisic’s shoes when his deal expires in a matter of months. Smal, given that he shares Barisic’s fine delivery from set-pieces and deep positions, felt like a natural successor for the long-serving Croatian, though he is not the only option under consideration.
Jefte Vital remains an option at Ibrox
Rangers, Romano says, agreed terms with Fluminense to sign Jefte Vital in January. That was before discussions broke down, APOEL Nicosia reluctant to cut short a loan deal which took the 20-year-old Brazilian to Cyprus last summer.
Jefte is likely to become available in the summer, however. And while it’s fair to say he is not a household name in Glasgow, the success of hte early Philippe Clement – Nils Koppen era means Rangers’ decision makers deserve the benefit of the doubt.
The club’s three signings post-Mick Beale – Mohamed Diomande, Fabio Silva and Oscar Cortes – have all been a big success thus far.
