Rangers always appeared up against it in the hunt for Benfica winger Tiago Gouveia.
The 23-year-old Portuguese attacker is involved in the first-team squad at the Estadio de Luz and there is plenty of conjecture surrounding his future.
Rangers have been linked to Gouveia in the player’s native Portugal and the left-sided attacker plays in a position where the Ibrox side are known to be keen on reinforcements.
But as the Portuguese giants strike a £25.5m deal with Serie A side Napoli, it could be about to hand Rangers yet another transfer blow in this area of the park.
Rangers dealt David Neres Tiago Gouveia blow
There were some stipulations to those Rangers links to Benfica star Tiago Gouveia.
Portuguese transfer portal Diârio de Transferências namedropped Rangers as transfer suitors in the hunt for Gouveia alongside Villarreal and and Anderlecht.
Quoting the Portuguese attacker’s asking price as high as £6.8m, that fee alone was enough to raise eyebrows at Ibrox.
But a report in Portuguese outlet A Bola then cast further doubt on Rangers’ ability to pull off a move.
The reputable Iberian outlet claimed that Benfica had doubts about selling Gouveia this summer despite substantial interest.
And – most importantly – that any transfer of the Rangers-linked winger could depend on the future of Brazilian attacker David Neres.
The 27-year-old winger is probably best known from his time with Ajax, but after two years with Benfica, is now on the move.
Serie A club Napoli have struck a €30m (£25.5m) deal to bring Neres to Italy, this freeing up a place in Benfica’s squad which Tiago Gouveia is now expected to fill.
Double disappointment in Ibrox left-wing transfer hunt
The news leaves Rangers right back where they started in the hunt for a new left-winger.
The Gers support are hurting after Ligue 1 outfit Stade Brestois 29 announced the loan signing of Brighton attacker Abdallah Sima.
Ex-Rangers defender David Weir pointed to Brest’s Champions League status as a crucial factor in getting a deal done.
Rangers’ failure to reach the Champions League has had a major impact on the club’s finances and now the club have been forced to move onto a B list of targets.
But before Rangers can pounce on any players they are desperately trying to shift as many as five Gers stars off the club’s bloated wage bill.
With moves for Abdallah Sima and Tiago Gouveia now having reportedly fallen by the wayside, Rangers have also been linked with Croatian winger Josip Brekalo.
