Rangers have been linked with a move for out-of-contract Dutch left-back Gijs Smal as Ridvan Yilmaz readies a switch to Serie A side Verona.
Reports in Italy have suggested that the Italian club are set to complete a deal for the Rangers left-back although it remains unclear how much the move will be worth.
Rangers meanwhile have been linked with a host of potential options to replace the Turkish international, including Verona’s Scottish left-back Josh Doig.
However, with Doig also being strongly linked to fellow Serie A side Torino, Rangers continue to be linked to alternatives with Gijs Smal the latest name to be mentioned.
Gijs Smal linked amid Ridvan Yilmaz & Josh Doig murmurs
Whilst there have been suggestions and rumours surrounding the left-back across social media and on fan forums, the Daily Record have now officially linked Smal to Rangers.
The report claims that Smal is a Plan B for Rangers should they be unable to orchestrate what we believe is a highly unlikely cash-plus-player transfer for Josh Doig at Verona.
Finishing last season as the Eredivisie’s top assister (10), the FC Twente star is also out of contract at the end of the current campaign and is currently free to discuss terms elsewhere.
Nickname Smal-dini by adoring Dutch fans, the left-back could be available on a knock-down price this winter if FC Twente don’t want to risk losing the 26-year-old for nothing in the summer.
Rangers could then, theoretically, concentrate the bulk of any money raised from the sale of Ridvan Yilmaz in other areas of the squad.
It’s a potentially streetwise solution as the club looks to bolster their attack ahead of the second half of the season.
Twente unsure on Rangers-linked left-back’s future
Rangers will also be buoyed about the contract soundbites surrounding the left-back which are coming out of FC Twente.
Former PSV striker Arnold Bruggink is FC Twente’s Technical Director and has been quoted speaking about the player’s situation in the Netherlands.
Admitting to Voetbal International back in September that FC Twente want to extend Gijs Smal’s contract, Bruggink claimed that getting the defender to sign a new contract “won’t be easy”.
When asked about Smal’s situation in December, Bruggink hesitated when asked if the player would be signing a new deal, responding “I don’t know”.
In quotes carried by the Scottish Sun, the Twente director reportedly said: “We’d very much like it if Gijs signed a new deal with us. But sadly we have to be realistic about that part of his future.”
Rangers fans watching the situation will be hoping Gijs Smal is available for a cut-price transfer fee with any potential Ridvan Yilmaz transfer set to boost Philippe Clement’s winter coffers.
Alongside Smal and Josh Doig, Rangers have also been linked to Philadelphia Union’s Kai Wagner, PSV star Fredrik Oppegard, and returning Liverpool defender Owen Beck in the left-back position.
Rangers are also said to be targeting another Eredivisie raid this January, with one Netherlands U21 talent another name being linked to Ibrox.
The Gers have already sold Academy star Ben Williamson to Hamilton Academical with Yilmaz potentially set to be the second exit of the January window.
