Rangers deal to be done to sign Kevin van Veen as cut-price transfer views shared
We’re delighted to welcome former Ibrox star Derek Ferguson as our exclusive Rangers columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points in Govan…
Derek Ferguson thinks Kevin van Veen would be a good “short-term” solution for Rangers in the January transfer window and labelled Micheal Beale “arrogant” for previously ignoring him and the Scottish market.
Philippe Clement is on the search for more firepower this month having already added Fabio Silva on loan from Wolves until the end of the season.
Van Veen has reportedly been given the green light to leave Groningen (Daily Record, pg 48, 5 Jan) a little over six months since he moved to the second-tier Dutch side.
Ferguson thinks Beale should have been looking at the former Motherwell man back in the summer and, while he thinks they need a different option long term, believes he could do a job for the Gers in the here and now especially if they are unable to land Hearts ace Lawrence Shankland who has also been tipped with a switch to Ibrox.
Speaking to Ibrox News he said: “With Van Veen, I do a wee podcast with the boys and I get ridiculed because about three years ago I had him in my team of the year.
“He’s got a physicality about him, sometimes he kind of bullies (opponents) but the boy can play.
“He’s what? 31, 32? In terms of a short-term fix you could bring him in, of course. He’s not gonna kill you in terms of the money spent.
“I kind of know the money he’s on so I think there’s a deal to be done there.
“Again you surround him with better players, get him evermore opportunities I think he would do a job.
“Not in the long term obviously but if we’re unable to get Shankland – because Shankland of course you take Shankland over Van Veen every day of the month – but if that’s not gonna happen with Shankland I think it would be a good option.
“I think people start to think he’s 31, 32 whatever, guys look after themselves in this day in age.
“The other thing I would say about Van Veen, which I like in a player, there’s a wee bit of arrogance about him and I don’t mind that I think it’s a good thing if it’s channelled in the right way.
“I was a wee bit surprised Rangers didn’t initially go for him but again that goes back to the old manager doesn’t it, he would not have even looked at the Scottish market, he turned his nose up at it – that was arrogant.”
In other Rangers news, Kris Boyd has shared his verdict on Silva in a new Ibrox transfer admission.