One-time Rangers target Joey Veerman is now the finest footballer in the whole of the Eredivisie two years after the Scottish Premiership giants reportedly failed with a £4 million.
At least, that is the view of Mario Been, the former Netherlands international speaking in glowing terms about a man emerging as the driving force in a PSV Eindhoven side who, even in the first week of December, appear to have one hand and a few fingers on the Eredivisie trophy.
According to De Telegraaf, Rangers tried and failed to sign the then-Heerenveen talisman for around £4 million back in 2021, with Steven Gerrard a paid-up member of the Joey Veerman fanclub.
How much it would take to pry Veerman away from PSV these days is anyone’s guess. But, with Been arguing that the 25-year-old is a man in a class of his own these days, anyone showing an interest in Veerman would likely have to part with closer to £40 million than £4 million.
Rangers wanted PSV Eindhoven’s Joey Veerman
“This is simply an absolute top player,” Been tells ESPN’s Good Morning Eredivisie. “I don’t see a better passer and footballer in midfield in the Netherlands.
“In the Eredivisie, he wins a lot of balls, as the statistics show. But you have to judge him on the (technical) qualities he brings to the table. That is a huge plus compared to a lot of players.”
A dictator, a distributor and a destroyer rolled into one, Veerman completed the most tackles of any of PSV’s starters while grabbing the decisive assist in Sunday’s 2-1 win over reigning champions Feyenoord. A result which took Peter Bosz’s side – who can also call upon the services of one Malik Tillman – ten points clear at the top.
It was the sort of performance which justifies the view of Dick Advocaat, the former Rangers boss convinced that Veerman could make his mark at a bonafide European giant such as Juventus these days.
‘Complete all-rounder’
“(His form) bodes well for the European Championships, if Veerman is going to become a complete all-rounder,” adds Guus Hiddink, the one-time Holland national team coach.
“He is becoming more and more aware of the qualities he has. However, if you want to take another step in Europe, he also has to take a small step defensively. Then, he would be next to Frenkie de Jong (in the Dutch midfield).”
