Xavi Simons form for PSV Eindhoven this season makes him the Dutchman that got away for Rangers under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
The former Gers boss was linked with several players from his homeland during his short tenure but none ever arrived and it was a question that he had to respond to when probed about his recruitment.
Gio said he was happy with the squad shortly before his dismissal but he also explained that we weren’t able to get every target for a variety of reasons with Xavi Simons linked constantly with a move to Rangers until he signed for PSV Eindhoven.
Finances or because we play in Scotland were the main reasons, with the now departed Ross Wilson claiming that we had been close to signing a player from the Netherlands.
Xavi Simons could have been a Rangers player
As reported by The Herald at the time, Wilson provided a fascinating insight into transfer dealings when he revealed:
“The manager has the final say on transfers and every player that comes in. We agreed terms with one Dutch player who then chose another club.”
Simons name emerged shortly after Gio’s arrival but it never seemed likely given his potential and profile.
When he was announced at PSV Eindhoven, there was more than a sense of what might have been.
A reported salary of £22,000 per week puts Xavi Simons on a similar wage to Ryan Kent and with 14 goals and eight assists in his 28 Eredivise appearances, he is significantly better value for money than the Rangers winger.
Malik Tillman playing as a number eight with 19-year old Simons in front of him or playing off a striker would be a mouth watering prospect.
The former PSG and Barcelona academy graduate would bring the ball carrying skills of Kent but with an end product that means you could build a team around him.
Maybe this summer Beale will land a player of similar quality and one who is guaranteed to get bums off seats and put silverware in the trophy room.
I doubt that many will have played with Neymar and Lionel Messi in the same team though.
