Rangers-linked Eredivisie star Danilho Doekhi is probably the lesser pondered of the two young Dutch names being extensively linked to Ibrox this summer.
The Vitesse Arnhem centre-half joins Heerenveen midfielder Joey Veerman as two talents from the Netherlands reportedly being sought to add some Oranje to the ranks of Rangers.
But whilst speculation continues surrounding playmaker Veerman, the conversation around Dutch defender Doekhi hasn’t been quite so persistent.
The towering centre-half was linked to Rangers at the beginning of the window as both Football Insider and the Telegraph mentioned the Gers alongside the ex-Ajax kid.
Only 23, Doekhi is entering the final year of his contract at Vitesse and was a stand-out performer for the club in an impressive Eredivisie season which saw the team finish 4th last season.
However, the reported Rangers target was nowhere to be seen as the Arnhem side earned an opening day 1-0 Eredivisie victory over PEC Zwolle.
This is due to a hamstring injury picked up after going off against Dundalk in the Europa Conference League with the player potentially set to miss the next Playoff round of the competition.
Vitesse face a tough double-header against Belgian outfit Anderlecht to gain entry to the competition after downing the Irish side 4-3 on aggregate.
The club’s potential qualification for the Conference League is something Vitesse will hope can keep Doekhi at the club.
The Dutch outfit have also made the imposing centre-back their captain – despite the fact he is yet to sign a new deal – in a move they will also hope can convince the Dutch U21 international to sign on.
Combine this with the player’s current injury status and this triple whammy makes a move to Rangers – or anywhere else for that matter – look increasingly unlikely this window.
Not that Vitesse Arnhem ever had any intention to sell the player.
“We would like to keep Doekhi,” explains club technical director Johannes Spors [Voetbal International].
“But we also have to be realistic. If a nice club can and wants to meet the asking price, then it can be interesting. We don’t want Doekhi to go, but we also understand that we train at Vitesse.”
How much might that asking price be? Well Feyenoord were reportedly laughed out the building by Vitesse Arnhem after making a proposal.
