Groningen stance emerges as Rangers-linked Kevin van Veen makes exit admission
Groningen are unaware of Rangers-linked Kevin van Veen’s desire to leave the club after he has made an exit admission.
Speaking to Dutch broadcaster RTV Noord on Wednesday (22 November), the Eerste Divisie side’s general manager Wouter Gudde said the club “don’t know these words” after the former Motherward forward told the Scottish Sun on Wednesday his agent has fielded calls about his availability in January.
The 32-year-old, who admitted he “wouldn’t rule out” a return to Scotland, said there was interest from the Gers in signing him last season, while Gudde conceded that Groningen would take the Dutchman’s “private situation into account” as his heavily pregnant wife still lives in Scotland.
“We don’t know those words and I don’t think Dick (Lukkien, Groningen manager) is familiar either,” said Gudde. “We also don’t know that Kevin wants to leave in the winter.
“Of course, we take Kevin’s private situation into account and that may also have some consequences for his availability in the near future.”
Unlikely
It seems pretty unlikely that Rangers will make a move to sign Van Veen despite his previous exploits in Scotland with Motherwell, where he scored 25 league goals last season.
The forward made a surprise switch back to the Netherlands to join Groningen over the summer, but it now looks as though his time there could be coming to an end, having scored five goals in 13 appearances.
As Van Veen himself admitted in his interview, he may no longer be the type of player the Gers are looking to sign due to his age.
That would be a major problem for the Light Blues’ hierarchy as chairman John Bennett has made it clear he wants to buy low and sell high on future transfers, something that would be inconceivable if they signed the Dutchman.
Philippe Clement is much more likely to try and bring in younger players that he can improve over a period of time as he looks to put the club in a position to compete for trophies on a regular basis over a number of years.
In other Rangers news, a Champions League club are looking to sign one Ibrox star.