‘My Agency Has Got Calls,’ Says Striker Of Rangers’ Interest In A January Deal

 

Kevin van Veen reveals Rangers interest as clubs on alert for deal in January transfer window; calls already made to agent

Kevin van Veen has singled out interest from Rangers as a potential avenue back into Scottish football as he plans to return from Groningen already.

The striker told the Scottish Sun on 21 November that his £500,000 summer move from Motherwell has “not worked out the way I anticipated” and is “becoming more and more difficult for me” with his girlfriend expecting their first child.

The 32-year-old is therefore eyeing a move back to the SPFL where he said he “would listen to” former club Well but revealed the Light Blues were interested in the summer.

Van Veen said: “But last season my agent told me there was definitely interest in me from Rangers, though at my age I maybe don’t fit their profile.

“I had a lot of happy times in Scotland and I’d never rule out more.”

And having fallen out with manager Dick Lukkein at Groningen he admits interest has already broken out for a January loan move, saying: “I had been doing OK, no better, but the coach and I had a discussion and I crossed a line in the language I used with him.

“Since then I’ve been on the bench and that’s caused a bit of interest.

“My agent’s had calls from six or seven clubs asking about the possibility of a loan in January. That would be the sensible alternative if things stay the same.”

Fallback?

It is widely expected that Rangers boss Philippe Clement will be looking to bolster his options at striker in January in large part due to the struggles of Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers.

Much of the focus has understandably been on Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland as the man who might be in the Belgian’s sights, after the manager revealed he had followed the Scot since his time at Beerschot and then he scored in each of the two meetings between the sides at the turn of the month.

However, Dutchman Van Veen is likely to only be a short-term solution given his age but would be available midseason at a fraction of the cost.

After scoring 25 SPFL goals from a total of 29 in all competitions at Motherwell last year it is little surprise that there is interest, and indeed Rangers were linked in the summer before Michael Beale spent heavily on Dessers, Lammers and Danilo.

The decision has clearly backfired with the manager now out of a job but speculation is increasing in a big way that the club might go back and rectify their error of not signing scorers proven in Scotland.

Van Veen has registered five in the Eredivisie so far this term and is clearly available, while namedropping Rangers suggests he is open to an Ibrox switch in a couple of months time.