Rangers Can Sign A ‘Very Technically Skilled’ Player In Bargain January Deal

 

Rangers could bring in an ‘excellent’ and’very technically skilled left-back’ in Gijs Smal with the Eredivisie ace reportedly a target for Philippe Clement’s side this month.

If you thought Borna Barisic could deliver a cross, wait until you see Gijs Smal in action.

With a grand total of 10, nobody mustered more Eredivisie assists in 2022/23 than the Twente’s develishly delightful left-back. And Rangers could get their mitts on quite the bargain if Smal was to up sticks and swap the Netherlands for Glasgow this month.Rangers can sign a ‘very technically skilled’ player in bargain January deal

The Dutchman will be a free-agent in July, after all.

Rangers linked with Gijs Smal swoop

Leon ten Voorde, an Eredivisie reporter who specialises in all things Twente, has no concerns about Smal’s talent. The late-blooming 26-year-old created the sixth most ‘big chances’ in the division last season, and the most of any full-back (Football Critic).

But, to his surprise, Smal’s superb form last season did not lead to a move away. And Ten Voorde has his doubts about whether opportunities will be forthcoming in 2024 either. At least, amongst clubs higher up the footballing food chain.

“I think Smal thought he would get away in the summer, but there was almost no interest in him,” Leon ten Voorde tells De Ballen Verstand.

“On the one hand, that is very striking, because he is an excellent player in the Eredivisie. He provided ten assists last year. Then, you should be able to (get a move) away with a one-year contract at FC Twente. But that somehow didn’t work out.

“He was also injured in August and that of course also played a role. I think Smal is now also starting to think; ‘If clubs are going to come, which ones will they be?’”

There does appear to be interest from Ibrox. The Daily Record, however, is keen to point out that Smal is unlikely to be Rangers’ first choice. Philippe Clement’s side have lodged an enquiry for Liverpool’s Owen Beck and reportedly see Smal as an ‘alternative’ to Hellas Verona’s former Hibernian flyer Josh Doig.

Most assists in the Eredivisie

Ten Voorde, meanwhile, cannot envisage clubs in some of Europe’s more high-profile leagues making a move any time soon.

“Smal is a good player. But, with all due respect, do you see him playing in the Bundesliga?” the reporter adds. “With his physicality and all, I don’t think so. The (English) Premier League? We don’t even have to talk about that.

“He is a very technically skilled left-back. But, in Spain, they have 140 Gijs Smals.”

There are considerably fewer full-backs of his quality in Scotland, of course, but Rangers appear to have their sights fixed on other, more high-priority targets as things stand.

Twente director Arnold Bruggink, meanwhile, confirmed today that Smal has been offered a new contract at the Stadion Galgenwaard.