Galatasaray are offering £7 million for Utrecht striker Anastosios ‘Tasos’ Douvikas with a move to Rangers now increasingly unlikely for the Eredivisie’s Golden Boot winner.
In truth, the Greek international always felt like perhaps Rangers’ most ambitious striker target (TEAMtalk).
His reputation soaring on the back of a 22-goal season at FC Utrecht – he shared the Golden Boot with PSV Eindhoven’s Xavi Simons – Anastosios Douvikas’ price-tag, as well as his status, is most certainly on an upward trajectory.
The £7 million fee Galatasaray are reportedly offering for his services, meanwhile, is around the same Rangers look set to part with for not one but two centre-forwards.
Rangers close in on striker signing(s)
The Gers have agreed a £3 million fee with Atalanta for Sam Lammers. Cremonese’s Cyriel Dessers seems likely to join him at Ibrox to the tune of £4.2 million.
Lammers and Dessers both made their name in Dutch football before making moves to a more high-profile competition, and Utrecht talisman Douvikas could soon be following in their footsteps.
Turkish publication Sabah say that Galatasaray are offering £7 million plus bonuses for the 23-year-old poacher. The Istanbul giants won the Super Lig title last term. But will now lose top scorer Mauro Icardi upon the expiry of his loan deal from Paris Saint-Germain.
Douvikas, then, will have big boots to fill. Former Inter Milan captain Icardi, after all, netted 22 times in just 24 Super Lig matches in 2022/23.
Either way, with Rangers’ pursuit of both Lammers and Dessers coming to a close, you can expect links with the likes of Douvikas, Josh Maja, Matija Frigan and Nikola Krstovic to go cold as Mick Beale turns his attention to a number of other targets.
“What you get from (Lammers) as a player is first and foremost a superb work ethic. He’s a left footed striker and is good technically,” Keen van Wonderen, a former assistant coach for the Netherlands national team, tells the Daily Record.
“He’s a player who has an eye on the tactical aspects of the game. He knows how to play an opponent and is a very clever guy.
“I can see him being a big success in Scotland. Rangers have signed a quality player who can make a big impact.”
