Rangers continue to be linked with potential left back signings and FC Twente ace Gijs Smal is believed to be a target this month.
A striker is already on board at Rangers with Fabio Silva arriving on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Philippe Clement still wants to put his stamp on this Rangers squad though and more signings could be on the way in.
One name Rangers have been considering is FC Twente ace Gijs Smal, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
New director of football Nils Koppen will know Smal from Dutch football, so let’s dig into Smal’s career and how he could fit in at Rangers…
Gijs Smal, the story so far
Smal started out in the ranks of Volendam after previously spending time with AFC ’34 and hometown club SV De Rijp.
Smal racked up 63 appearances for Volendam’s second team and eventually made a big impact in the first team, bagging nine goals in 69 appearances.
The 26-year-old saw his contract expire in 2020 and he decided to join Dutch rivals Twente.
The hype around Smal really built last season as he racked up 10 assists in 34 Eredivisie appearances.
Smal ended up staying at Twente despite mounting interest over the summer but started this season with a calf injury and has struggled to recapture his top form.
The Dutchman is yet to record a single assist this season and there may be concerns that last season’s displays were a flash in the pan rather than an indication of his future output.
Gijs Smal player profile
- Age: 26
- Date of birth: 31/08/1997
- Position: Left back
- Club: FC Twente
- Former clubs: Volendam
- Nationality: Dutch
- Contract: Until June 2024
Gijs Smal, what they say
“I particularly enjoy Smal. He is hardly mentioned, but the ease with which he plays football… I really think he could take a step higher,” – Dutch pundit Marciano Vink.
“He is a very talented player. It will be quite an achievement to keep such a boy at FC Twente,” – Dutch pundit Pierre Vermeulen.
“Smal has undergone incredible development at Twente. He went from Volendam to FC Twente on a transfer-free basis. I thought it was a nice step for him, but I played with him and thought: I’ll just have to see.”
“I knew he had quality, but I had not thought in advance that he would develop into one of the better left backs in the Eredivisie. With the ball and in passing, there is no better back in the Netherlands. He has performed incredibly.
“I understand that he wants to take a step. I can also imagine that there is interest in him. He is a very interesting player who is always fit and can hold his own defensively. He is an extra weapon on the ball for the team,” – Former Volendam teammate Kees Kwakman.
Gijs Smal to Rangers analysis
Rangers may need to land at least one let back this year with Borna Barisic out of contract and Ridvan Yilmaz attracting interest from elsewhere.
Smal certainly appeals given his contract situation, and he could be a bargain addition this month or a free transfer signing in the summer.
There is no sign of Smal signing new terms and he is becoming some of a contract rebel as he heads into the final six months of his deal.
The Dutchman is only 26, so still has plenty left in the tank, and has proven his attacking qualities with a stunning campaign last season.
Our concern is that Smal hasn’t matched last season’s form this term and his injury-hit start to the season seems to have impacted him.
This may be one for Rangers to hold off on until the summer, even if means risking missing out.
Smal may need some time to get back to his best but Rangers may benefit from waiting and seeing if he can bounce back before the summer.
