One of the worst-kept transfer secrets in football has not yet become official, but it’s not far off. Rangers will be in the market for a new left-back this summer – Borna Barisic’s contract is expiring and there is little evidence that he deserves an extension on current form – but a man who topped the assist charts in 2022/23 will not be replacing him at Ibrox.
Not with Jan Streuer, the FC Twente chief, confirming that Gijs Smal is ’99 per cent’ likely to be a Feyenoord player next term.
Smal, who set up no fewer than 10 goals for his Twente team-mates last term, is on his way to the reigning Eredivisie champions. He, like Barisic, will become a free-agent in July.
But while Rangers may be increasingly minded to move on from the long-serving Croatian – his decline clear to see during another poor display in Sunday’s 3-2 defeat at Ross County – no one could accuse Twente of letting Smal go without a fight.
Rangers to miss out on Borna Barisic replacement
“I assume (he will leave), because we cannot reach an agreement with him,” Streuer, the former technical director who now works as an advisor in Enschede, tells ESPN. “Then, (his contract) ends.”
Rangers were linked in January, the Glasgow giants pursuing a left-back in the winter too before opting to retain the services of the ever-improving Ridvan Yilmaz. Rotterdam-based publication 1908 reported back in March that Rangers were still tracking the 26-year-old Dutchman, who also has his admirers down the road at Celtic.
“At Twente, we know what we can pay. If that is too much, you have to say no,” Streuer adds, insisting that it is ’99 per cent’ certain at this stage that Smal will be on his way out of the Stadion Galgenwaard.
First-team opportunities will not be guaranteed at Feyenoord, however. Streuer is keen to make a point of that, with Arne Slot’s side boasting arguably the division’s premiere left-back in Quilindschy Hartman.
“Gijs is a boy who has difficulty sitting on the bench,” Streuer warns. “He wants to play. Anyway, I don’t know what (Feyenoord are) promising him.”
Philippe Clement’s side eyeing left-backs
Rangers are also keen on Jefte Vital. Clement’s side agreed terms with Fluminense in January, per Fabrizio Romano, but negotiations broke down after APOEL Nicosia refused to let the Brazilian cut short his loan spell in Cyprus.
APOEL, three months on, are now making no secret of their desire to retain Jefte’s services on a permanent basis.
“It’s not forbidden (that we can buy him),” says president Prodromos Petrides. “Just with the financial tightness that we have now… look, we’re doing everything we can to secure a deal (for Jefte) to stay.
“He’s already sold, let me put it this way. We have suggestions (with Fluminese). We want to let him stay, we want to buy him.”
Rangers, who’s Ibrox misfit Sam Lammers is also shining in the Eredivisie, are expected to target a goalkeeper, a forward and a midfielder this summer. Eduard Spertsyan, one of the biggest talents in Russian football, is one target.
Read more: All 11 Rangers loan players for 2023/24 season and how they are performing
