Rangers appear to have missed out on the signing of FC Twente left-back Gijs Smal with Eredivisie champions Feyenoord reportedly agreeing a ‘multi-year’ deal for the Ibrox-linked Dutchman.
With the seldom seen Marcos Lopez seemingly on his way out of De Kuip, Arne Slot’s side were always expected to prioritise a left-sided full-back this summer.
But if the rumours are true and they have all-but tied up a deal for Gijs Smal already – three weeks before April Fool’s Day, no less – then you have to hold your hands up in admiration of a club who have clearly got their priorities in order.
Smal, linked with Rangers in January and reportedly a target for the summer too, has allegedly agreed to join the reigning Eredivisie champions when his FC Twente contract expires in July. The late-blooming 26-year-old, the Algemeen Dagblad adds, will sign a deal for a number of years in Rotterdam, and brings with him one of the finest left pegs in the division.
Rangers miss out on Feyenoord-bound Gijs Smal
Voetbal International back up those claims coming out of AD. Smal, they write, ‘is Feyenoord’s first signing for the new season’.
This, then, brings an end to any hopes Rangers may have harboured of luring the former FC Volendam man to Glasgow. Smal, who was also linked with Celtic this week, shares a lot of similarities with the similarly out-of-contract Borna Barisic.
His tally of 10 assists last term was the Eredivisie’s best, Smal sharing Barisic’s superb delivery from deep positions and set-piece situations.
Clement will need to replace Borna Barisic
Barisic, one of the longest-serving members of Philippe Clement’s squad, appears increasingly likely to bring an end to six years at Ibrox in the coming months. His influence at either end of the pitch has been on the wane for a while now, with Clement preferring the younger, quicker and more energetic Ridvan Yilmaz in recent weeks.
Yilmaz did not have many chances to showcase his famed acceleration away to Benfica on Thursday but defended superbly against Angel di Maria and co as Rangers secured a more-than creditable 2-2 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League last-16 tie.
