Credit: Imago

Danny Wright

Fri 30 January 2026 15:33, UK

NEC Nijmegen are in the hunt to sign Danilo on loan from Rangers before the winter transfer window closes.

Danilo, 26, has been a bit-part player for the Light Blues this season, starting just 15 matches across all competitions.

With the Scottish transfer window slamming shut at 11pm on Monday, Danny Rohl and co are looking at late additions to the squad, and it seems that a new forward is high on the agenda at Ibrox.

Rangers have had bids rejected by Hansa Rostock for Germany striker Ryan Naderi, while Leeds centre-forward Joel Piroe has also been linked with a late loan move to Govan.

If a striker is signed, it’s going to boot Danilo further down Rohl’s pecking order, which has led to Eredivisie club NEC Nijmegen waiting in anticipation to see if they can seal a deadline-busting move of their own.

NEC Nijmegen eye up Danilo as Rangers assess striker options

According to Sky Sports News journalist Anthony Joseph, Rangers are looking to sign a new striker “during the final days of the transfer window”, and if they do get a deal over the line, that “could pave the way for Danilo to depart”.

It is understood that NEC, who are fourth in the Dutch Eredivisie and could move above Ajax into third if they win their game in hand, are in pole position to sign the Brazilian striker.

Joseph adds that they’re just waiting on a green light from Ibrox before swooping in with a late loan move.

Danilo knows the Dutch top flight well, having played for Ajax, FC Twente and Feyenoord before Rangers signed him from the Rotterdam club in July 2023.

Across his spells at those Dutch clubs, the Sao Paulo-born striker has 29 goals in 81 Eredivisie appearances.

• Read more: Rangers turn to Cameron Archer transfer amid ‘unlikely’ Joel Piroe developments

Why doesn’t Danny Rohl like playing Danilo?

Danilo scored in each of Rohl’s first two Scottish Premiership matches in charge of Rangers.

In Rohl’s Ibrox debut, he netted in a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock, before scoring the winner three days later in a 1-0 victory at Hibernian.

However, since the 2-2 draw at Dundee United on 3 December, Danilo has had to make do with a spot on the bench for nine consecutive league games.

Youssef Chermiti and Bojan Miovski are now both seemingly ahead of Danilo in Rohl’s pecking order, although the Brazilian was also being played as an attacking midfielder behind the striker at times.

With Rohl switching between having three central midfielders instead of a No 10, there’s been little room for Danilo in the side.

And when there has been a need for a central attacking midfielder, Thelo Aasgaard has also filled in.

Stay up to date this winter with our Rangers transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at Ibrox, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.