FC Twente have offered left-back Gijs Smal a new contract amid January links to Old Firm duo Rangers and Celtic.
The latest reports coming out of the Netherlands suggest that there is a new contract on the table for the 26-year-old, whose current deal expires in six months.
Rangers and Celtic have both been linked with a move for Gijs Smal, who is free to discuss terms with other clubs as things stand.
The Ibrox side are said to be on the hunt for a new left-back in this window as Ridvan Yilmaz reportedly readies a switch to Serie A side Verona.
Gijs Smal offered FC Twente contract
The Gijs Smal contract claims come from Dutch paper Tubantia, who have been following the Eredivisie side’s winter training camp in Spain.
The report states that the club’s Technical Director Arnold Bruggink has already spoken to Gijs Smal about a new contract with the player set to discuss things with his agent.
Interestingly, the report also mentions Twente striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who is also out of contract in the summer.
Whilst there is no suggestion the Dutch forward has been offered a new deal, it is claimed that Twente have told the striker he will not be allowed to leave this month.
There is no such suggestion for Gijs Smal, who is affectionately referred to as Smaldini by the Twente fans, meaning a January sale has not been ruled out at this stage.
Rangers and Celtic in left-back hunt
In an interesting turn of events, both Rangers and Celtic are said to be looking for both a new left-back and a new striker in the January window.
Rangers have already pipped their Old Firm rivals to the signing of Wolves loanee Fabio Silva but there is nothing concrete surrounding the situation with Gijs Smal.
It’s clear that FC Twente want to keep the left-back at the club but it remains unclear whether a failure to sign a new contract would lead to Gijs Smal’s sale in this transfer window.
Rangers have been linked to a host of left-back options this month but if the club can secure a deal for Smal, it would allow the bulk of any Ridvan Yilmaz fee to be spent elsewhere in the squad.
It appears that the situation will come to a crescendo in the coming weeks with Twente having a decision to make on Gijs Smal if he refuses to sign a new contract this month.
