Kevin van Veen is the latest name doing the rounds in Rangers circles as speculation surrounding the club’s January striker hunt ramps up.
The ex-Motherwell hitman, 32, is at odds with the hierarchy at current club Groningen and following a summer switch back to the Netherlands has talked up a return to Scotland.
The striker himself has previously claimed that Rangers considered him after a barnstorming two seasons at Motherwell before suggesting the Gers pulled out of a move due to his age.
But Rangers fans who’ve been led to believe the club might’ve just changed their mind have been influenced by fresh Kevin van Veen reports which have got lost in translation.
Kevin van Veen links lost in translation
A Christmas Day report in Dutch outlet Dagblan van het Noorden named Rangers as an interested party in Kevin van Veen.
The transfer story was then picked up and repackaged by several online social media accounts with rumours ranging from potential Rangers interest to a loan deal being signed.
But with the DVHN report at the basis of the claims, one quick look at the story suggests those reacting online have got things lost in translation.
Whilst the Dutch outlet claims Rangers are interested in the forward, it also claims to have gotten its information from a report in the Sun.
As far as we can see, that is in reference to this report, where the Scottish Sun claim Kevin van Veen has been given the green light to leave Groningen with quotes from the club’s Sporting Director.
Whilst the Sun report mentions Rangers links to Kevin van Veen, there is no concrete suggestion the Ibrox side are actually interested.
Moreover, the Dutchman’s presence in Scotland is due to the forward visiting the country with his Scottish wife over the festive period.
The claims are also in stark contrast to that of Dutch journalist Stefan Bleeker, who cooled talk of a Rangers switch after speaking to Van Veen’s agent.
Rangers on hunt for striker options
It’s no secret that Philippe Clement is on the hunt for a new striker with Brazilian hitman Danilo out with a knee injury and the club assessing Kemar Roofe’s latest issue.
The likes of Fabio Silva and Lawrence Shankland have been more prominently linked in the press with Kevin van Veen an outsider in any potential striker transfer.
The fact the striker himself acknowledges that at 32-years-old he likely out of the running also points to the Gers looking in a different direction.
But if Rangers are looking for two hitmen to bolster their squad this winter – one marquee addition and another short term fix – then there are surely better options than Kevin van Veen.
Despite the fact Heart & Hand have all-but ruled Rangers out of a return for Colombian firebrand Alfredo Morelos, the striker is a free agent after leaving Brazilian side Santos.
As Rangers potentially head for the tightest title race in a generation, we’d rather have a resurgent Alfie than an aging Motherwell striker backing up the charge!
