Dutch outlet Voetbal International reports that both Rangers and Celtic are interested in Feyenoord player Renato Tapia.
The 24-year-old is primarily a holding midfielder, who can also operate at both centre-back and right-back, but is finding game time hard to come by under Dick Advocaat.
With 51 caps and three goals for Peru [Transfermarkt], Tapia is an experienced international, who represented his country at the 2018 World Cup in group stage fixtures against Denmark and Australia.
The VI report claims that with the player’s Feyenoord contract expiring in the summer, the Dutch side are keen to sell him on for a fee during this window, rather than seeing him leave for nothing in a few months time.
It’s said that both Old Firm clubs are interested in his signature, but that Celtic are the more ’emphatically’ interested of the two sides.
Verdict
Tapia is rated at £2.7m by Transfermarkt, but given his contract situation, he’s likely to cost considerably less than that.
It remains to be seen whether or not there’s genuine interest from the Gers here, or whether they are being linked simply as an extension of apparent Celtic interest.
However, the player certainly has pedigree and will be well known to the coaching staff, having played the full 90 minutes of Rangers’ 1-0 Europa League win over the Dutch side at Ibrox in September.
Any move for an extra midfielder likely depends on the future of Greg Docherty. Given that Andy King has already returned to Leicester [Leicester Mercury], should the 23-year-old secure a move away too, Steven Gerrard may feel he’s a little short on cover.
In that instance, a player like Tapia may come more into focus.
