Heerenveen sporting director Ferry de Haan has provided an update on reported Rangers target Joey Veerman [Daily Record].
The Gers have been linked with Veerman for several months, with the Glasgow Times reporting in July that they could be prepared to splash up to £7m on the midfielder.
Yet, it looks increasingly likely that the 22-year-old is going to stay put.
Several European clubs including Hellas Verona and Feyenoord had pulled out of the race for his signature, seemingly providing a boost to the Gers.
However, the Light Blues’ Champions League qualifying exit then negatively impacted their transfer budget and earlier this week, they appeared to settle for a much cheaper alternative, snapping up Juninho Bacuna from Huddersfield Town.
With the end of the transfer window looming, de Haan has asserted that there’s currently no activity around Veerman and that Heerenveen are in no rush to sell.
“As it stands now, I’m counting on that, yes,” he said when asked if he expects Veerman to stay [Daily Record]. “As far as we know, there is currently no movement around him.”
“I think it is good that he has ambitions. And I also think it is good that he expresses those ambitions. A club like Heerenveen needs good transfers, that has been proven in the past. Joey still has a three-year contract and he knows it.”
Ferry de Haan issues Veerman update
Since the Gers were first linked with Veerman, supporters have been urging the club to sort out a deal.
However, Heerenveen’s asking price of €10m (£8.6m), which the player himself has questioned, meant that a deal was always unlikely unless the club made the Champions League or offloaded current assets.
Steven Gerrard suggested earlier this week that he’d be content with his midfield after one more signing and now that Bacuna has been confirmed, it seems unlikely that another midfielder will arrive at Ibrox between now and the end of the window.
Veerman played the full 90 minutes of Heerenveen’s 3-2 win over RKC Waalwijk on Saturday, a further indication that a transfer isn’t imminent.
Meanwhile, Michael Beale has provided an injury update on two important players ahead of Sunday’s trip to Ross County.