If there is one transfer saga that can’t be pointed to as the turning point for the Rangers board and their relationship with Steven Gerrard, it was probably Joey Veerman.
At the time, the then Gers boss had neat and tidy midfielders who could look after the ball but lacked a genuine goalscoring number eight with Scott Arfield always looking better higher up the park.
At Heerenveen, Rangers came close only to be priced out of a move and now Joey Veerman could be set for a big money transfer amid rumours of Premier League interest.
Rangers Joey Veerman mistake might be repeated
The one question that was raised about the Netherland’s international was his temperament and his mental strength.
We saw that at first hand in 2022 for the Champions League play-offs when he simply downed tools as things got tough and weren’t going his way, his post-match interview was like something a disgruntled teenager would come out with.
In fairness though, he seems to have learned from that because he was instrumental in our demise in Eindhoven this season.
Graceful in possession, £7m signing Joey Veerman’s greatest strength is his passing ability and uncanny knack of adding numbers from a deeper position, qualities that make him a regular for his country now.
Qualities that now seem him linked with a move to the Premier League in a bizarre one or the other story.
West Ham United are looking to spend more of the money that they brought in from the sale of Declan Rice with a midfielder high on David Moyes’ agenda.
Strangely though, it is Kalvin Philipps who is the Hammers boss’ preferred option.
They couldn’t be further apart in terms of style of play.
With Tomas Soucek and James Ward-Prowse already in his squad, they would be so much better off with Joey Veerman, who would have made a real difference for Rangers.
Instead though, they seem intent on signing a player who has been injured or unavailable for much of the last two seasons and plays in a role where they already have options.
Not signing Veerman was a key factor in not retaining the league title and was a huge mistake, it looks like West Ham are about to make a similar one.
